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Healthy Sleep for Healthy Aging

adult sleeping in bed
We all know how important it is to get ample sleep and how it affects our health overall. Yet, older adults are finding themselves struggling to get enough sleep as they age. According to the National Sleep Foundation, the sleep cycle in older adults repeats itself throughout the night which yields lighter sleep. While the amount of time they spend asleep remains consistent as when they were younger, the quality of sleep suffers a decline. Ultimately, this leads to feeling restless and sometimes frustrated. If you or someone you know has experienced this feeling, Visiting Angels Barrington discusses some insights you can take into consideration.

When it comes to how much sleep is needed, there is a misconception that the older we get, the less sleep we need. On the contrary, our need for sleep remains the sleep as we age. What changes, however, is the quality of sleep that we get. Visiting Angels Barrington points out that medications is a primary culprit. They note that older adults tend to take more medications which can lead to restless sleep via their side-effects. Visiting Angels Barrington recommends to talk with your doctor to go over all your medications and discuss how they can affect your sleep. They also mention that snoring, restless leg syndrome, and acid reflux can also contribute to disturbed sleep.

Visiting Angels Barrington points out how important it is to make the necessary preparations in order to get sound sleep. They note that people who have caffeine, sugar, and food before they go to bed tend to have a harder time falling asleep and staying asleep. It's recommended to finish eating at least 2-3 hours before going to bed by the National Sleep Foundation. Another habit Visiting Angels suggests to adopt is to reserve your bedroom to solely sleep. Doing this will help you from spending too much time in bed before you actually fall asleep. When you go to bed when you're tired and without any distractions, you'll get more restful sleep.

Sleep is an important part our lives. It helps us get the rest we need in preparation for the next day. When our quality of sleep is disturbed, it can greatly affect our well-being - especially as we age. To read the full article from Visiting Angels Barrington, visit: https://www.visitingangels.com/barrington/tips-tricks-and-info-about-how-healthy-sleep-supports-healthy-aging-weekly-message_2663.

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