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Is Exercise a Natural Sleep Aid for Seniors?
There are a number of reasons why exercise, particularly if
performed at the right time of day, is considered the most
positive sleep aid for seniors. None, however, are more
significant than the fact that exercise is a completely natural
form of aid. But before discussing why exercise is such a great
sleep aid, it is important to examine both the definition of
insomnia and the reasons that people suffer from this affliction.
At its basic level, insomnia is defined as a difficulty to
either fall or stay asleep, or to experience sleep that seems
inadequate or fails to produce the refreshing feeling that sleep
normally provides, despite the length of time spent sleeping.
Insomnia is not considered a disease, rather it is a symptom
that is thought to have numerous, quite different causes. Of the
types of things that can lead to patterns of insomnia,
physicians note that physical disorders, drinking large amounts
of alcohol in the evening, emotional problems, and stress are at
the forefront. Research has also shown that sometimes the
failure to sleep soundly is simply due to a lack of fatigue.
It is important to note that difficulty falling asleep is common
among all age groups, from the very young to the elderly. Data
indicates that about 10% of adults have chronic, or regular
bouts of insomnia, while about 50% experience insomnia when in
fact they are not
Because exercise effects the body is so many positive ways, it
is clearly the most natural option for helping address sleep
related issues. Regular exercise will first of all help tire the
body physically, ensuring a natural form of fatigue that the
body will address with a need to get appropriate rest. The only
negative research on physical exercise is that spending time
late in the evening can often stimulate the heart and brain too
much just prior to the time that people are looking to head to
be. Such exercise has been known to actually keep people awake.
Perhaps the greatest impact from physical exercise on
the bodies
sleep patterns is the effect working out can have on a person's
emotional state. Because stress and worry are often the key
impediments to sleep, efforts to reduce such stress are critical
to eliminate the symptoms that are at the root cause of
insomnia. Activity is shown to improve a person's
self-confidence and sense of well being, thereby helping improve
a person's overall mood and attitude about life. The natural
endorphins that are produced when we exercise help us feel
better emotionally and actually reduce feelings of sadness and
depression. Therefore people who exercise regularly sleep
better. Their positive emotional state helps them fall asleep
more quickly, while their body fatigue level allows them to
sleep more deeply and awake less often during the night.
Yet one other way that people who work out regularly bring to
the reduction of insomnia is the notion of schedules. People who
take their exercise seriously will build it into their daily
regiment, ensuring that time is available for this important
task. These people also realize that it is important to develop
a sleep routine that includes regular bed time hours as well as
regular morning routines. By following a regular sleep schedule
and getting up at the same time each morning, even if it is a
weekends, your body will respond by developing regular sleep
habits. Because total nighttime sleeping time tends to decrease
with age, older people may sleep better if they go to bed later,
get up earlier, or nap less during the day.
Older people experiencing age-related sleep issues are likely to
find more long-lasting relief through the use of regular
exercise than they ever will by using drug-related sleep aids.
About the author:
Ms. Boulay writes for Medopedia.com, which has
more information on insomnia
treatment and sleep
apnea treatments
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