Finding the right sleep balance is essential to preserve your physical and mental health.
Sleep plays an essential role in global well-being, even after 60 years. Contrary to popular belief, you should not be satisfied with a few hours of rest per night on the pretext that you age and that it is “normal” to sleep less. Indeed, natural modifications of the biological rhythm linked to age can cause more fragmented sleep, often interspersed with night awakenings or prolonged awakening periods. This phenomenon can give the impression of having a less recovery sleep.
With age, deep sleep becomes naturally lighter and less abundant than when one was 20 years old. “It is a complex process linked to the fact that the functioning of our brain becomes more heterogeneous as they age, which means that all its parts do not sleep at the same time, some remain awake to process important informationexplains Dr. Marc Rey, neurologist, specialist in sleep and president of the National Institute of Sleep and Vigilance (INSV). Then sleep is organized in cycles lasting 90 minutes. At the end of each of them, we have a more or less important awakening. At 60, alarm clock will be more prolonged than 20 years old. We will therefore have a memorization of these much more important awakenings. Clearly, we’re going to remember. “
According to the sleep doctor, seniors always need 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night to allow their organization to recover properly. Precisely: it is recommended to sleep between 7 and 9 hours per night for people aged 60 to 64, and between 7 and 8 hours from 65 years old. It then depends on everyone’s habits, some have been used to sleeping less and for years, while others have been “big sleepers”. In any case, we slept well when you wake up without being tired.
Several factors can help disrupt sleep as you get older, including health concerns such as prostatic disorders in humans, pain, hot flashes or night sweats in women … “To compensate for this, it may be useful to take naps during the day, provided that these remain short not to harm night sleep”develops the specialist. It is generally recommended not to exceed 20 minutes of nap, between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Adopting a good lifestyle, maintaining regular physical activity and promoting soothing bedtime habits are all effective means to preserve long -term quality sleep.
Thank you to Dr. Marc Rey, neurologist, specialist in sleep, president of the National Institute of Sleep and Vigilance (INSV).
