Is your sleep schedule (or lack of) putting you at risk of serious, chronic illness?
Wanting to set a New Year’s resolution that can have a real impact on your health, and one that you can actually stick to?! How about sleeping more!
A 25 year-long study in the UK has shown that those sleeping five hours or less a night have a 30% higher chance of developing multiple serious chronic illnesses versus those who slept at least 7 hours a night. This study has shown that sleeping seven to nine hours a night can lower your risk of diabetes, cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, depression, dementia, Parkinson’s and arthritis. These results are only compounded as we age, participants aged 70 who didn’t get the recommended hours of sleep had a 40% higher risk.
So how can you get a better night’s sleep and make sure you’re getting your seven to nine hours?
- Book an appointment with your healthcare provider to address any underlying medical concerns that are preventing you from sleeping through the night. Waking up through the night is not actually a normal nighttime routine.
- We’ve heard it time and time again, but put your screens away at least 30 minutes prior to bedtime.
- Avoid alcohol, while it may put you to sleep, it is not likely to provide you with a truly restful sleep cycle.
- Exercise earlier in the day to give your body time to settle back down after the adrenaline rush.
To learn more about how we can help, please contact our patient care coordinators to book a consultation – 604-949-0077
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