Throughout our lives, one thing we should pay more attention to is the amount of sleep we have or need. Not just to get through each day but to understand the role sleep plays in keeping our heart healthy.
Why sleep matters
If we don’t sleep enough, we leave ourselves open to greater risks of developing heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, a stroke, or a life-ending heart attack. Lack of sufficient sleep increases our blood pressure, and we are at risk of certain inflammatory chemicals causing damage to our heart and increased calcium build up by too much or not enough sleep.
Exactly how much sleep we need varies. However, it’s known that most adults need between seven and eight hours of sleep each night to do right by their hearts. If you have live in home care, rest can be more easily regulated with personal attention to help you go to bed and get up at the best times. Knowing you have a carer at hand can also help you relax and sleep soundly for the recommended times.
The good news is that while you are asleep at night, there are many other benefits that a few hours of sound sleep have to your overall health. Probably more readily explained by telling you what can go wrong if you aren’t sleeping properly.
Poor-quality sleep is damaging
Traumatic and stressful events, depression, and many wellbeing and lifestyle problems that we face as we age can all affect our sleep quality. Not surprisingly, loneliness is also a factor in poor-quality sleep. One of the major links that sleeping disorders have on our cardiovascular health, is the more disturbed our sleep the greater risk of problems with our heart and mental health. If we don’t sleep enough we increase our risk of stress and mental wellbeing issues. These in turn work against us by disrupting our sleep even more, so we end up in a circle that is hard to break without intervention. It’s therefore essential to get support if you’re struggling to sleep, or even sleeping too much, as both can be cause for concern.
Care in your own home for a better night’s sleep
For many, ageing and becoming less able to care for ourselves means making choices about the help we need and looking at the services available to stay in our own homes, either alone, with family or with a carer.
Choosing companion care or domiciliary care support is one way to get used to having care and support whilst remaining living in your own home. This is especially beneficial when it comes to sleep. You can stay in your home and continue with routines you choose – not those dictated by care home staff or timetables set by others. This support alone can help you get a better night’s sleep and provide you with company, if you need it.
