Turning off TV may help boomer insomnia

TEL AVIV, Israel, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- If baby boomers have trouble sleeping they should turn off the TV, an Israeli researcher suggests.

Nava Zisapel of Tel Aviv University says insomnia affects about half of all people age 55 and older.

"People are sleeping in front of the TV, or nodding off during conversations, and taking long afternoon naps," Zisapel says in a statement. "This leads to less sleep at night. In a way, their sleep habits become more like babies' and less like those of healthy adults who sleep in consolidated periods during the night."

There are some simple steps seniors can take to get a good night's sleep, Zisapel says.

Experiencing a full spectrum of light during the day can be beneficial, as is routine exercise and avoiding daytime naps and sleeping in front of the TV. Zispadel's research centers how the body's inner clock regulates biological functions.

Spending a couple of hours outdoors every day can help. Sipping lattes on a patio -- away from direct sunlight -- can be pleasurable and increase the exposure to natural light from the blue-green spectrum.