Having a sleeping routine is crucial for a senior for so many reasons. However, not all seniors have good sleeping habits, which they should be focusing on. A good sleeping routine helps promote a good sleep-wake cycle, allowing seniors to fall asleep easier and remain asleep for longer. Having a routine that focuses on proper sleep will help seniors cope with age-related issues and stay alert during the day. Lastly, sleep is crucial for maintaining a healthy immune system and even boosting it. Their home care assistance providers can help them follow through with changing their sleep habits.
Here are a few reasons why sleep impacts a senior’s immune system.
Sleep Helps Create Antibodies
Sleep helps the body create antibodies by allowing the immune system to take a break and restore energy. During sleep, the body releases hormones that help promote the production of antibodies. So when a senior sleeps, it allows the body to fight off harmful bacteria and viruses, which means a senior can fight off illnesses and stay healthier!
Lack of Sleep Means Your Body Takes Longer to Recover
When your body lacks sleep, it doesn’t get the appropriate time to repair itself from the day, which means a senior may get sick easier or longer than if they had plenty of sleep. During sleep, your body produces hormones and proteins that help your immune system fight off viruses and bacteria; when you don’t get enough sleep, your body can’t produce enough of these hormones and proteins. Lack of sleep means your body can’t heal itself properly, which can be dangerous for seniors.
Poor Sleep Means More Inflammation
You may think that body inflammation is normal for a senior, but the truth is it’s not. Having the right amount of sleep each night means the body has a chance of fighting off inflammation. When you don’t get enough sleep, your body’s natural levels of inflammation-fighting hormones are reduced, leaving you vulnerable to inflammation. Chronic inflammation can impair your body’s ability to regulate your immune system, making you more susceptible to diseases.
Sleep Deprivation Means Less Cytokines and More Stress Hormones
If you’ve never heard of cytokines, that’s not a problem! They are little messengers in the body that help fight infection and inflammation. When your body has enough of them, it helps boost your immune system and battle chronic diseases. This is one of the best reasons to get enough sleep. If a senior needs help with a sleeping routine, home care assistance can help a senior wind down for bed each night.
The stress hormone in the body is called cortisol, and when we lack sleep, our body produces more of it. This hormone is what leads us to feel anxious, stressed, and upset. When there is too much of this hormone in the body, it can also lead to depression. Too much cortisol can lead to stress and harm the body. When your body has no way to battle the stress, which happens for too long, it can cause high blood pressure, heart problems, obesity, and diabetes.