Posted on 10/18/2022 10:15:26 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Getting less than five hours of sleep in mid-to-late life could be linked to an increased risk of developing at least two chronic diseases.
People who reported getting five hours of sleep or less at age 50 were 20% more likely to have been diagnosed with a chronic disease and 40% more likely to be diagnosed with two or more chronic diseases over 25 years, compared to people who slept for up to seven hours.
Additionally, sleeping for five hours or less at the age of 50, 60, and 70 was linked to a 30% to 40% increased risk of multimorbidity when compared with those who slept for up to seven hours.
Researchers also found that sleep duration of five hours or less at age 50 was associated with 25% increased risk of mortality over the 25 years of follow-up—which can mainly be explained by the fact that short sleep duration increases the risk of chronic disease(s) that in turn increase the risk of death.
"It is recommended to sleep for seven to eight hours a night—as sleep durations above or below this have previously been associated with individual chronic diseases.
"Our findings show that short sleep duration is also associated with multimorbidity.
"To ensure a better night's sleep, it is important to promote good sleep hygiene, such as making sure the bedroom is quiet, dark and a comfortable temperature before sleeping. It's also advised to remove electronic devices and avoid large meals before bedtime. Physical activity and exposure to light during the day might also promote good sleep."
However, if a participant had already been diagnosed with a chronic condition, then long sleep duration was associated with around a 35% increased risk of developing another illness. Researchers believe this could be due to underlying health conditions impacting sleep.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
IOw, getting old raises risk of health problems. Gee, who knew??
Did it ever occur to them that people with health issues don’t sleep as well?
The article implies that if you want fewer health problems you should sleep more. But maybe the sleeplessness is a symptom rather than a cause.
Oh darn. This study is going to keep me up at night worrying that I’m not getting enough sleep.
Now you tell me. It’s already after midnight.
You should have posted this at 9pm. I might have done something about it.
Good point!
Well, guess I am DoOooOomed given my sleeping habits are garbo ..../s
“It’s also advised to remove electronic devices…”
So what am I doing right now at 20 minutes before bedtime?
Sleep hygiene is key , Sleep Deprivation is deadly. Get 12 hours if you can..... I lock my doors add some white sound like a fan , turn on my “do not disturb” feature on my iPhone and build my nest and crash when I’m tired and awake when I’m not.
Naps are 90 minutes a day
I am one lazy SOB in my old age ....... :o)
The trouble with this is that old chicken and egg thing.
Which way does causality run?
Are people likely to get ill because they sleep less, or:
Do people sleep less BECAUSE they are ill?
Oh dear! I’m in trouble. I can’t sleep hardly at all at night. I’ll sleep for 3 or 4 hours and then wake up and can’t go back to sleep. I’ll toss and turn a while, then give up and just head downstairs. I’ll then turn on the coffee and drink a cup or two. Finally, after a couple hours, I’ll be able to fall back asleep and catch another 2 or 3 hours of sleep.
A man’s got to invest in his dreams (i.e. you should get plenty of sleep).
I see there are several of us awake right now. Sometimes a bowl of ice cream will do the trick. Sometimes a cup of coffee. Or, you can tell yourself, “If I’m still not sleepy in 10 minutes, I’ll go clean the downstairs restroom, or clean out that Tupperware cupboard”. The thought of using your time productively will sometimes cause you to get very, very sleepy.
I’m almost 70 and I’m still awake @ 230am. Certainly not desirable but some days I get 14 hours at a stretch. I’m not worried about it. I let my body tell me.
I don’t like over six hours or so
Last seven hours now feels like 12 in college when I could really sleep
I can function on five
I nap occasionally in my FJ
if sleepy pull over and set timer for 40-50 min
Someone with a condition that causes extended sleep interruptions might benefit from more hours in bed. Sleep off and on until you feel better, IMO. For a while, I have responsibilities that often prevent sleep during normal hours.
Magnesium certainly has helped me sleep more soundly.
Doc recommended Magnesium threonate. Although I do use magnisium citrate on occasion
I have “good sleep hygiene” as they describe it. That isn’t the problem.
My problem tossing and turning because there’s a lot on my mind and I’m pissed off. After an hour or so of that I just get up and do stuff.
If I slept for more than 6 hours, it would cut into my FR time... or my channel flipping workout before I go to bed.
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