Many people think that it is completely normal to have a reduction in sleep as we age; however, this is a myth. Sleep is one of the most important ways for your body to recharge and energize. Sleep is actually one of the most important factors in quality of life, for people of any age. Infants, children, and adolescents actually need more sleep than adults, between 7-9 hours of quality sleep nightly. Oddly enough, seniors actually need the same amount of sleep as adolescents in order to feel healthy and happy; according to the National Institute of Health (Senior Health). However, sleep patterns change as we age. As you can see by the graph below, as we age we tend to achieve less “deep sleep.” This can often result in being tired throughout the day. Many times seniors will rest more often, napping during the day to ‘catch up’ on lost sleep or, in a worse case scenario end up with sleep deprivation; which can have unpleasant results.
Symptoms From Sleep Deprivation
- Depression
- Lack of Balance – making falls more likely
- Attention & Focusing Issues
- Memory Problems
- Falling Asleep During the Day
- Anxiety
- Impaired Driving Abilities
- Lowered Immunity
- Impaired Metabolism (including sugar metabolism which can affect diabetes and cause weight gain due to lack of motivation/energy)
- Aches & Pains
What Can Cause Lack of Sleep
Lack of sleep can be caused by many factors. Hectic lifestyles can often bring increased thoughts into the bedroom, keeping us awake as we worry or think about the issues of the day. Many times we simply have too much to do and go to bed too late to alow for enough sleep. Sometimes sleep can be interrupted by noises around us, pets, or other untimely issues. Often, as we age we are on many medications. The mix of various medications or even one medication in particular can affect our ability to sleep. Lack of natural daylight can also affect our sleep patterns. Because our bodies use natuarl light to set our “inner clocks,” when we are closed up indoors (as we often are during the winter) with drapes closed to keep in the warmth, we can actually be missing out on much needed sunlight telling our bodies when to distinguish daytime and evening. Some studies have even led us to believe that light from certain sources such as computer screens and televisions can mislead and confuse our body’s inner clocks.
How Live Your Life Physical Therapy Can Help You Win the Sleep Battle
At Live Your Life Physical Therapy we are always concerned with quality of life. If you aren’t getting enough quality sleep then your quality of life is at risk. You deserve to Live Your Life with Quality and we can help.
Let us come to your home and work with you one-on-one for 60 minutes. We can discuss your sleep patterns, work on suggestions that may help you obtain a better night’s sleep and design a customized program to address your specific needs and abilities. Your lack of sleep may have already begun to affect your quality of life; including your strength, your balance, your weight, and your ability to focus. With an individualized program designed around your needs and your abilities we can begin to strengthen your body and, with that, release endorphins to begin making changes in your overall mental and physical health.
We offer a highly skilled and experienced physical therapist that will come to your home and work with you right there in the comfort of your home to get you moving. The more you move, the more energy you will have; the more energy you have the more likely you are to move even more, creating the affect of truly tiring yourself out by the end of the day. You will begin to sleep better and feel better as your body responds to increased activity. Please call us today if you are having trouble sleeping. You deserve quality of life and we can help you obtain it.
Dedicated to Keeping You Healthy & Active,
Dr. Eva Norman
President & Founder
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Live Your Live Physical Therapy, LLC