“Sleep is that golden chain that ties health and our bodies together,” Thomas Dekker. No, not just a casual shut-eye when we feel like it.
Yet, when we talk about health, the focus falls on exercise, nutrition, relationships, etc. Hardly does anybody mention a good slumber.
Sleep is so underrated that younger people think seniors don’t need it as much as they do.
Wrong. Experts say seniors should, on average, have a doze of seven to seven and a half hours each night.
Some seniors, however, report they have problems sleeping at night. Not because they don’t feel like sleeping but due to the following:
– Too much daytime naps:
I sleep an average of six hours/night but I take short naps after lunch and late afternoon.
It doesn’t affect my sleeping pattern as it does to some seniors.
And mid-day naps is not laziness. Science has proven that it is necessary to keep you awake and alert the entire day.
But be sure not to overdo it to the point of making you toss and turn in bed until the wee hours of the morning. Observe how long must you nap to achieve both objectives – stay alert until bedtime, and off you go to dreamland when your back hits the bed.
– Too much coffee during the day:
The caffeine in coffee blocks adenosine, your body’s natural sleep-inducing agent. Not only that, but it is also a diuretic – any substance the promotes the formation of more urine. This means your sleep will be disturbed by more frequent trips to the toilet.
If you are a coffee junkie, take your coffee in the morning. Afternoon coffee is best if taken before 2 pm.
– Effects of medications:
Medications for high blood pressure, asthma, as well as cough, colds, and flu medications can stop you from getting enough sleep. Consult your doctor for alternatives or a change in dosage if this happens to you.
Why Enough sleep is important
Enough sleep is essential for your health and well-being. While you may experience occasional sleep problems (like I do), never allow it to become chronic. Studies show that chronic sleep deprivation tends to exacerbate existing medical conditions.
Assuming you are free of any of those, always try to get good sleep each night. It will go a long way towards increasing your strength, a better mood, increasing your body’s ability to fight infection.
Other benefits of good sleep are:
– Enhances memory and attention span;
– Reduced use of medications;
– Reduced symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression;
– Better cardiovascular health;
– Improves appetite;
– Reduced risk of falling;
– A happier and engaging lifestyle.
In summary, a good night’s sleep is important because it helps improve concentration, and memory, allows your body to repair any cell damage that may have occurred during the day and prevents diseases by strengthening your immune system.
So next time somebody tells you that at your age, you need not get as much sleep at night, just smile and say, “Let’s see who gets to live longer.”
Please share to make other seniors appreciate the value of having a full sleep each night.
~oOo~
