Most people know that sleep is important. However, a lot of those same people would also be quick to admit that they don’t get nearly as much sleep as they should. However, if people were more aware of why sleep is so important, they’d probably take greater strides to ensure they got enough of it.
Scientists have suspected for a while that sleep helped people to clean toxins from the brain. Throughout the course of the day, harmful proteins can build up in the brain, and it is during the sleep cycle that these things are washed away. The toxins that build up are very similar to what occurs when someone has Alzheimer’s disease.
But sleep may do a bit more than this for the brain. A new study out of the University of California at Berkeley indicates that sleep actually is a stress reliever. During deep sleep, called non-rapid eye movement sleep, the brain calms and resets itself. The end result is a more relaxing demeanor upon awakening. Heart rates and blood pressure also go down during this time. When done consistently, there is evidence that this helps people to feel a lot less stress in their lives.
As caregivers, our goal is to help seniors live the best possible lives. Sometimes, this can be done–or at least begun–by improving sleep patterns. Better sleep helps us to feel better, and it can save a load of stress, too. Other research indicates that stress, if left unchecked, can lead to a whole host of other health problems. Avoiding this can only lead to better overall health.
This is news that can benefit more than just the elderly. It’s news that younger folk, including caregivers, can use to their benefit. A tired and stressed caregiver will not be as helpful as they want to be, and both the person in need of care and the caregiver end up suffering as a result of this.
Because, if we’re going to be completely honest, we must admit that caring for a loved one is stressful. Even though the family caregiver is supposed to be watching out for their older loved one, it is easy for that stress to have a negative impact on rest and other aspects of health. It’s important to admit that up front so that we can be proactive about watching out for our own health. If we’re not taking care of ourselves properly, it will catch up to us. Eventually, we won’t be able to provide the level of care that the people we love deserve.
We are here to help. One of our expert caregivers would love to sit down with you and your family to discuss how professional care can help to alleviate this stress. Our consultation service is free, our goal is that it will help families to better care for the people that they love. This might mean continuing providing care on your own, or it might mean hang a professional care service like ours. Either way, we want to help you give your family the very best. It’s what you deserve.
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