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"As you get older, you may notice that your sleep patterns change. ”
In a busy shopping mall in the city, Uncle Li was suddenly attracted by this sentence.
It turned out to be his neighbor, Dr. Zhang, who was standing in front of a bookstore, explaining to him the changes in the sleep of the elderly.
On this day, because of the sudden heavy rain, Uncle Li had to interrupt his shopping plan and ran into the mall to take shelter from the rain, and happened to meet Dr. Zhang.
Uncle Li, a retired bank clerk, has been feeling tired lately, especially in the afternoon, and he can't help but doze off.
Seeing this, Dr. Zhang began to discuss with him the topic of sleep in the middle-aged and elderly.
Dr. Zhang began by emphasizing that as people get older, their sleep needs will naturally change.
He explained that for most middle-aged and older adults, they tend to sleep less at night and more often nap during the day.
Therefore, he recommends that middle-aged and elderly people should get 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night, which is very important for them to maintain good health and cognitive function.
Next, Dr. Zhang mentioned three sleep precautions, which are especially important to ensure the quality of sleep in middle-aged and elderly people.
Maintain a regular sleep schedule
Regular sleep and wake-up times help regulate the body's biological clock, which improves sleep quality.
Create a good sleeping environment
Sleep in a quiet, dark, clean, and comfortable temperature environment is an important factor in promoting a good night's sleep.
The right mattress and pillow are equally important, so choose the right bedding for you.
Avoid ingesting irritating substances before bedtime
Avoiding caffeinated beverages such as coffee or tea before bed, while reducing the greasy and spicy nature of dinner, can prevent stomach upset and rapid heartbeat during sleep, helping to improve sleep quality.
Dr. Zhang also shared a study that showed that middle-aged and elderly people who followed the above sleep recommendations had a significant improvement in their overall health and quality of life compared to other populations.
In addition, good sleep habits can significantly reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and many forms of cognitive decline.
Through this chance encounter, Uncle Li has a more comprehensive understanding and countermeasures for his sleep problems.
He realized that as he aged, proper modification of his sleep habits was essential for his health.
This discussion begs the question: why do many middle-aged and older people struggle to improve their sleep quality despite the abundance of health advice and information?
An in-depth analysis of this issue suggests that, firstly, many middle-aged and older adults may lack specific knowledge on how to adapt to changes in circadian rhythms due to changes in age.
In addition, some older adults may have health problems such as pain, medication side effects, or other medical conditions that affect sleep that are not adequately identified and managed.
Therefore, improving the quality of communication between doctors and elderly patients, conducting regular health check-ups, and adapting treatment to individual circumstances are key to improving this problem.
In this way, not only can the sleep quality of the elderly be improved, but also their overall quality of life can be effectively improved.
What do you have to say about this? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section!