The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-05-29
Your Health

Sleeplessness in
Elderly May Not
Cause Worry
BY II. y. BUNDERSEN, ". D.
MANY people, especially as
they get older, find it difficult TO
sleep and this condition causes
them a great deal Of worry. Sleep
leSSness is caused by a number OF
conditions. SleeplesSness caused by
discomfort or by disease is usu-
ally corrected whenever the un-
DERIVING disease or other cause is
eliminated. However, when the pa
tient has only sleeplessness and no
other complaint, then the most I'M
portant element in getting rid OF
il is just to feel assured that lack
of sleep will do no harm and quit
worrying about il.
No one ever died Of sleepleSs-
ness. So say Doctors Laurence
Hughes and s. Evan Jones Of Aus
trslia. Unfortunately a person
who suffers from sleeplessness
usually is fearful of the conse-
quences and builds up in his own
mind long list Of complaints that
are supposedly caused by lack Of
sleep and so a vicious circle is
formed.
Worry Over Sleeplessness
The worry over the sleeplessness
makes the person less able to sleep.
II certain persons learn, from ex-
perience, that only four to six
hours Of deep, sound sleep at night
are required for health and that
whenever that amount Of sleep is
lacking, sleep will inevitably occur;
if those persons will attain a sane
attitude toward their problem, as
soon as they stop worrying about
the probable effects of their sleep
lessness, sleep will come naturally.
1t is also important in building
up a patients proper mental atti-
tude. TO reassure him that sleep
producing drugs, if properly en-
ployed under the directions Of a
physician. Chat is not used too
often) will not be habit-formins
or harmful. The necessary amount
Of sleep varies with the age and
activities Of the individual.
Two Kinds Of Sleep
Doctors Hughes and Jones be-
lieve that there are two kinds Of
sleep. physiologic and psychologist.
Physiologic is profound and deep.
Psychologist is less deep and dur
ing it mental activities continue in
the, ttT7-n 81 dreams psSShologic
sleep is regulated by custom and
habit. Such things as bright lights,
loud noises and worry over per-
sonal problems will delay sound
sleep and cause ftful waking from
light sleep. A voluntary effort 10
60 to sleep will invariably produce
wakefulness. II the person with
insomnia can substitute a dull
train Of thought for more stimu-
lating things, sleep will come more
quickly, but sleep-producing drugs
are often necessary 10 promote re-
Taxation.
As soon as a natural sleep habit
is restored, the use Of sleep-pro-,
ducing drugs should be discon-
tinued. A brisk walk, a warm bath,
q hot drink and the reading Of a
dull book before retiring all will
help to bring on sleep. Excessive
smoking and large evening meals
should be avoided. Slight fatigue
is an aid to sleep, but exhaustion
may have the opposite effect.
A sleepless person may be irri-
table, lose interest in his work, and
suffer from mental depression, but
If he will just get over the idea
that his sleeplessness is producing
permanent harm, much will be ac-
complished in overcoming the diff
Guilty. Persons must learn to 20 to
bed TO sleep and not to worry.