10 | Senior Living Winter 2019
SENIOR LIVING | HEALTH
Get a Great Night’s Sleep
Research shows that
one of the most
important things for
our overall health,
especially as we age, is
a good night’s sleep.
Following a normal
sleep schedule is
crucial to keeping your
body on track in terms
of concentration,
memory function and
immune system.
Basically, when you fall out
of your sleep routine, your
health pays for it. Sleep
requirements vary from person
to person, but most healthy
adults require seven-and-a-half
to nine hours of sleep per
night. Feeling sluggish during
the day may be an indicator
that you aren’t getting enough
sleep, so be sure to pay atten-
tion to your body to determine
your personal sleep require-
ments.
SLEEP DEPRIVATION
Older adults who don’t sleep
well are more likely to suffer
from depression, attention and
memory problems, excessive
daytime sleepiness, and experi-
ence more nighttime falls,
according to the Sleep
Foundation.
As we age, our body produc-
es lower levels of growth hor-
mone. This can cause a
decrease in slow wave, or deep
© ADOBE STOCK
sleep. When this happens you
produce less melatonin, lead-
ing to fragmented sleep and
more frequent wake-ups
during the night hours. These
are normal parts of growing
older, but by keeping to a strict
sleep routine and listening to
your body when it’s tired, you
can help stave off these poten-
tial effects.
SLEEP APNEA
Untreated sleep disorders,
like sleep apnea, can put a per-
son at risk for cardiovascular
disease, headaches and other
issues. If you or someone you
love experience snoring on a
regular basis and it can be
heard from another room, or
make gasping noises during
your sleep, these are serious
signs of sleep apnea. Check
turn off the TV and computer
with your physician to see what at least one hour before bed.
kinds of tests they offer for
Make sure your bedroom is
determining if you have a sleep quiet, dark and cool.
disorder.
Move bedroom clocks out of
view to prevent disruptions to
your sleep.
IMPROVE YOUR SLEEP
Adjust your bedtime to
Here are a few tips from the
match when you feel like going
National Sleep Foundation to
to bed, even if that’s earlier
get a better night’s sleep:
than it used to be.
Use low-wattage bulbs and