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| Trouble Insomnia | - In the laboratory, where subjects were encouraged to go to sleep as soon as they felt sleepy, the interval was only 44 minutes.
Older Subjects Wake More Often
On the pre-study baseline night, older subjects slept worse than younger subjects, waking more often after sleep began. In the period isolation part of the study, this difference nearly disappeared.
The researchers say that older people might sleep better if they responded promptly to sensations of sleepiness, which may mean going to sleep a little earlier than they customarily do.
- "There's a trade-off, however," Dr. Campbell points out.
- "While they may sleep more soundly, they also may awaken earlier than desired in the morning. They necessitate deciding in advance what to do if they get up before the rest of the household."
Hot Baths Can Help
People with trouble falling asleep might benefit from taking hot baths about 90 minutes before bedtime, the researchers speculate. They get out of the bath and body temperature drop rapidly, and that might help them to fall asleep faster.
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