Doctor challenges myth that poor sleep is simply part of aging

Poor sleep in older adults should not automatically be dismissed as a normal part of aging, according to Tseng Ping-tao, a psychiatrist at Taiwan’s Sinying Hospital.

Tseng said more than 80% of older people with poor sleep have specific coexisting illnesses or physical discomfort contributing to the problem. Some older adults feel they have slept badly while family members notice loud snoring and increasing daytime fatigue.

Loud snoring can signal an obstruction in the upper airway. When airflow is restricted and blood oxygen levels fall sharply, the brain can trigger brief awakenings that force the body to breathe harder and disrupt sleep. Tseng said sleep apnea and nighttime oxygen deprivation are important triggers of premature ventricular contractions.

He cited medical literature indicating that nearly 20% to 60% of people with sleep apnea also experience premature ventricular contractions. Repeated nighttime oxygen deprivation can overstimulate the sympathetic nervous system and cause sharp blood-pressure fluctuations. In some cases, he said, dangerous arrhythmias can develop and lead to sudden cardiac death during the night or early morning.

Tseng urged medical evaluation when older adults have very loud snoring, pauses in breathing or gasping during sleep, irregular heartbeats, unusual daytime sleepiness or poorly controlled blood pressure. Sinying Hospital offers a self-funded home sleep test costing NT$5,000. Patients wear a portable device for two nights, then have the results analyzed after a doctor’s assessment.