Everyday stress is the most common cause of insomnia, and if it's not treated, sleeplessness is likely to become a potentially destructive way of life. This finding from a study by the Gallup Organization may be especially relevant to older individuals, who experience a particularly high prevalence of insomnia and other sleep-related complaints. The study was conducted among a sample of 300 sleep experts throughout the nation. When asked to rank the various causes of short-term insomnia, which lasts up to three weeks and is the most common type of sleep problem, daily stress and anxiety came out on top. Sleep experts recommend that insomnia that persists for more than a few days, or that recurs, be treated by a physician.
Behavioral therapy focuses on counseling or changes in sleep habits.
Prescription sleep medications offer the best opportunity to get maximum relief from common forms of acute sleeplessness, say researchers at New York's Sleep-Wake Disorders Center. One study, reported in a British journal of Ageing, found that 4 in 10 elders living at home complained of insomnia and tended to have higher anxiety levels and poor health. Age-related changes in sleep also may be due to a loss of neurons in the brain or shifts in other physiologic and hormonal systems. An older adult's risk of depression appears to be greater among those with insomnia. Sleep problems in the elderly may result in night time agitation and confusion.