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No matter how old you are, a good Sleep
night’s sleep is a critical part of on it
your overall health. Sleep allows
the body to repair the wear and tear in- By Jaime Calder
curred by your body, refreshes your im-
mune system and strengthens memories Food, water and a good night’s sleep are essential to our overall health and
formed during the day. As crucial as these wellbeing.
processes are, it is still a common miscon-
ception that the older one gets, the less Sleep quality can, of course, be caused by next in the morning.
sleep they need. Surprisingly, the opposite a number of underlying medical issues
is true: older adults need roughly seven to which should be directly addressed with ADDRESS ANXIETIES
nine hours of sleep each night – roughly your doctor. Conditions such as sleep If you find your mind racing the min-
the same amount as the average teenager. apnea, depression, severe insomnia and ute your head hits the pillow, perhaps
Unfortunately, as we get on in years it side effects caused by medications should it’s time to work out those worries with
can become harder and harder to get all be discussed with a medical profes- someone who can help. Whether you talk
as much sleep as we need. One reason sional who can help you tackle these with a friend or a professional, getting
is that we are no longer producing as conditions in a safe, effective way. your problems off your chest can ease
much growth hormone as we once did. your mental burden and provide you with
When these hormones are decreased, But what if you have no underlying medi- a more positive outlook on life in general.
so too are all the physiological factors cal issues, and you just can’t seem to
these hormones support, including me- get the same kind of rest you once did? WORK IT OUT
tabolism, muscle tone, skin elasticity and Simple changes to your waking life can Physical activity not only helps to pre-
– of course – deep sleep. (Thanks, ag- have a profound impact on your qual- pare your body for evening rest, but it
ing!) Older adults are also more sensitive ity of sleep. If you’re struggling to fall can make you more energetic during the
to their sleeping environment, making asleep, find yourself waking throughout day as well, helping you to establish a
light, noise, temperature changes or an the night or don’t feel rested upon wak- healthy cycle of sleeping and waking.
uncomfortable mattress more likely to ing, the following can have you sawing Outdoor activities like walking, hiking
disturb nighttime slumber. Throw in a logs in no time: and swimming can be particularly ef-
post-middle age tendency to fall asleep fective thanks to the added dose of sun-
and wake up earlier than before and an GET ENGAGED shine, which helps to regulate melatonin
increased likelihood of insomnia, and and sleep/wake cycles. No time to work
you’re talking about some very real dis- An active daytime can prepare you for out during the day? Why not wind down
tress in dreamland. a restful nighttime. Socializing, partici- in the evening hours with some relax-
pating in clubs or hobbies, volunteering ing yoga or meditation? These calming
Fitness Center suggestions and learning new skills are activities activities reduce blood pressure and calm
for better sleep which exercise the brain all day long, the mind, helping ready your body for a
Gentle Breath Yoga • TD leaving you appropriately tired at the long, satisfying night of rest.
Tuesday, Thursday 11:40 a.m. end of the day and eager to start the
Meditation • TD JUNE 2016 SUNRAYS | 31
Thursday 3:15 p.m.
Sleep Better Series • TD
Thursday 7 p.m.
ONLINE: SCTEXAS.ORG
