Age and sleeplessness Anyone can experience sleep problems, but age and gender do play a role. As you grow older, your chance of experiencing aches and pains increases, especially pains related to muscles and arthritis. Although our ability to sleep and the amount of sleep decreases with age, the need for sufficient restful sleep does not. Women of all ages require more sleep than men and their sleep is often influenced by fluctuating hormone cycles. For this reason, middle-aged and older women tend to experience poor sleep quality more often than their male counterparts.
Exercise also helps reduce stress and related painful conditions.
Don't force sleep - if you can't fall asleep, leave the bedroom and read or watch television until you are sleepy. Avoid drinking coffee and other drinks containing caffeine before bedtime. Avoid alcohol - it may make you feel sleepy, but it can disturb your sleeping pattern, and make you feel unrested. Have a light snack like warm milk or a few crackers. Don't take problems to bed.