WASHINGTON, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Older Americans are sleeping less and are more concerned about this pattern than ever before, says a Gallup survey released Thursday.
Almost half of those surveyed said they get less than seven hours of sleep per night, and 25 percent also believe they have a "sleep problem."
According to most doctors, the amount of sleep needed per night depends solely upon the individual, but most studies point to somewhere in the range of seven to eight hours per night.
As baby boomers age, this could become an even bigger problem, according to the International Longevity Center USA, which released the survey.
"The importance of sleep to healthy aging is often overlooked in the medical community, but it's becoming increasingly apparent that good sleep could be a new vital sign," said Dr. Robert Butler, president and chief executive officer of ILC, a non-profit research group that examines the effects of aging on society.
Just as routine measurements of blood pressure, temperature and pulse can indicate overall health, so too can sleep, ILC believes.
"The idea is can we make sleep in the same category -- increase the visibility," said Dr. Harrison Bloom, senior associate at ILC and an associate clinical professor of geriatrics at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York.
The survey, which randomly polled 1,003 adults age 50 or older, set out not only to find older adults' sleep habits but also gauge their attitudes towards sleep.
While 80 percent understand the importance of sleep to their overall health, many said that they don't get help even when they tell their doctors about a sleep problem. Also, 77 percent are hesitant to begin using any sleep aid medication, citing long-term effects or the possibility of addiction.
Older adults who fail to sleep enough can be damaging their health. Those who routinely get few hours of sleep increase their risk of heart disease and cognitive issues. "Poor sleep is a condition that needs to be addressed, diagnosed and treated," Butler said.
What leads to many of these sleepless nights? Researchers found that worry was the main hindrance for 40 percent of those polled. Other causes for sleep disturbances include heart disease, arthritis pain and medications with adverse effects. Alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, obesity and, Bloom says, TV add to the list of sleep troubles.
And as more baby boomers become primary caregivers for family, their worry levels -- and number of sleepless nights -- tend to rise. Half of the caregivers surveyed claimed that worry has hindered their sleep. Caregivers need appropriate rest or they run the risk of physical illness or depression.
"It is no surprise that this stress and the need for round-the-clock care often interfere with getting a good night's sleep," Butler said.
Other findings of the survey include:
-- Good sleep was ranked fourth in importance for a healthy lifestyle of those polled. Good nutrition, mental sharpness and regular exercise were the top three.
-- Thirty-eight percent of men say they get a good night's sleep every night of the week, while only 27 percent of women say the same.
-- Forty-five percent say they need more sleep now than when they were young.
