How Your Sleep Needs Change Throughout The Decades

Age significantly affects your sleep needs. Your sleep cycles, stress levels, exercise levels and diet change throughout the years, which all impact your sleep. While sleep habits differ for everyone, sleep experts have specific recommendations for each age group.

Sleep in your 20’s – While it is recommended for all ages to get 7-9 hours of sleep, this is often unachievable for those in their 20’s with busy lifestyles and work schedules. As the brain is very adaptive in this age group, good sleep habits aren’t needed super consistently, but should still be practiced more often than not.

Sleep in your 30’s- This is a key time to address any sleep disorders like insomnia and sleep apnoea to avoid long term health effects. Although environmental factors such as raising a family, works schedules, and financial stress can make sleep difficult, you should still keep consistent sleep-wake schedules, limit caffeine, exercise and eat healthy diet.

Sleep in your 40’s – During this decade, it is time to prepare for the age and health related changes to your sleep that you can expect in the following decades. It is important to understand that sleep often mirrors your health, and so looking after all aspects of your health will be crucial for minimising the effects on your sleep.

Sleep in your 50’s – This is when research shows some of the most pronounced changes to your sleep occur. Stage 3 non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep decreases by 2% each year until about 60. In your 50s, medications and other conditions are likely to affect your sleep, along with menopause driven insomnia for many women. Your melatonin levels also change, impacting your sleep. To help you get the best sleep you can, speak to your doctor about any medications that might affect your sleep, get lots of natural light during the day, and establish good stress management techniques.

The CPAP Clinic has a network of 40 clinics nationwide, and works in partnership with Centurion Healthcare, a Respiratory & Sleep Specialist clinic group to provide comprehensive sleep care including:

1. Respiratory & Sleep Specialist consultation – face-to-face and telehealth available
2. Sleep studies – in-lab, home and contactless sleep studies available.

Bulk billing available for specialist telehealth consultations as well as sleep studies. Medicare criteria apply. Call 1300 76 29 39 or email info@thecpapclinic.com.au for more information.