Aging and Sleep:

A Good Night's Sleep
Can Slow Down the Aging Process

What is the relationship between aging and sleep? The benefits of a good night’s sleep can have a pretty significant impact on how well we age. Benefits include: stress relief, improved memory, better concentration, looking younger, and good heart health.

• Stress or anxiety
• Physiological issues
• Depression
• Cigarette smoking
• Over stimulation, being overwhelmed
• Caffeine

The truth is everyone is different and some can do fine with 5 or 6 hours sleep a night and others simply can’t. If you’re tired, irritable, anxious or lethargic because you’re not sleeping enough, or if your quality of life is being impacted by your lack of sleep, you need to find a solution.

Need Help Falling Asleep? Try these tips if you have trouble sleeping:

• Don’t watch TV right before you go to sleep (for that matter, stay off the computer as well).
• Make sure your bedroom is dark enough (no lights from outside or even your alarm clock).
• Cut caffeine intake by mid afternoon.
• Pets keeping you up? Maybe it’s time they sleep in their own beds.
• Get help for a snoring spouse.
  
• Quiet your mind – try meditating.
• Quit drinking liquids before bedtime so you don’t have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night.
• Be careful what you eat before you go to sleep. Foods that help you sleep better include oatmeal, whole grain cereal with low fat milk, bananas, turkey, brown rice or nuts. Avoid high fat, sugary, spicy or heavy foods.
• Alcohol may make you tired initially, but it can cause restless sleep or sleep disruption.
• Exercise can help you sleep better, BUT don’t exercise several hours before bedtime.
• If insomnia continues for an extended period, seek medical attention to rule out any physiological issues.

These are general guidelines to help you deal with aging and sleep issues. Remember, though, that everyone is different. Some people can’t sleep after consuming caffeine and others sleep like a baby. You just have to experiment until you find just the right solution.