Many American adults aren’t getting enough sleep: Nearly 40 percent of people ages 45 to 64 don’t sleep enough, with men more likely than women to fall short on catching z’s.
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“Being an adult does not mean sleep is not important,” says Dimitriu.
Research shows that when sleep improves, so does mental health — including issues with depression, anxiety, overthinking, and stress.
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Throughout adulthood, sleep is also important for heart, brain, and metabolic health, and it plays an important role in preventing accidents caused by sleepiness or fatigue.
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Many common medications can also disrupt your sleep, including antidepressants (which can be stimulating), beta-blockers used to treat high blood pressure or irregular heartbeat (which can decrease natural levels of melatonin), and decongestants (which are stimulating and can raise heart rate).
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Drugs like diuretics can indirectly affect sleep by prompting the need for extra bathroom visits at night.
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“Chronic pain and medications can all have an effect on making sleep lighter, more fragmented, and less restorative overall,” says Dimitriu.
In general, it’s best to avoid screens for two hours before bedtime, maintain a good sleep environment that’s dark and quiet, and only use the bed for sleep and intimacy, says Carstensen. You can also try reading in a chair and going to bed once sleepy.
If you think your sleep problems may be due to a chronic condition or medication, talk to your healthcare team.
