ABSTRACT

Dissatisfaction with the amount and quality of sleep is a common complaint, particularly with advancing age. This chapter provides an understanding of the factors which impair sleep quality in women as they age and presents a framework for their clinical management. The function of sleep in large part remains unexplained, although it is appreciated that sleep is ubiquitous among the animal kingdom. In women, the physiologic changes associated with the menopause provide an additional potential impediment to normal sleep processes. A range of environmental changes that accompany aging are likely to contribute to changes in sleep. Epidemiological evidence to support the relationship between decreased activities and sleep disturbance is lacking. The use of alcohol is a common and often overlooked cause of sleep disturbance. Obstructive sleep apnea is a common disorder affecting all age groups, and is particularly prevalent in the elderly. A sleep log or diary may be very helpful, particularly in patients with insomnia or circadian disturbances.