You might not have felt truly rested in a while because you’ve been busy being a caregiver, but that’s something you need to examine more closely. Sleep is vital for good health period, and it’s even more urgent for you as a caregiver.
You Need Sleep to Repair Body Damage
During the day, the human body takes a bit of a beating. You might bump into things, exercise, and push yourself harder than you thought you would that day. At night, when you sleep, your body is able to focus on repairing all of those little bits of damage so that you’re rested and ready to go the next day. If you’re not sleeping well, it’s a lot more difficult for your body to get to all those little repairs and you end up gradually feeling more run down.
Sleep Also Helps Your Brain to Recover
But it’s not just your body that repairs itself when you sleep. Your brain goes through some repairs, too, and the information you learn and process gets “filed” away in the appropriate spots. When you’re not getting enough sleep, your brain is a little slower to function and you might not be thinking as clearly as you should be. The Centers for Disease Control say that driving without having enough sleep is almost as bad as driving after drinking. That’s how important sleep is for normal brain function.
Chronic Health Issues Can Be Worse if You’re Not Sleeping
If you have any chronic health issues of your own, they may be more difficult to manage if you’re not sleeping well. There’s what lack of sleep does to your brain, for starters, but then there are the bodily factors. Your body is already going through a lot because of the chronic health issues you’re facing, but then it’s also not able to repair itself. You’re getting a “double whammy” of sorts. Talk to your doctor about what else you need to do.
You Don’t Have to Put up with Sleep Problems
No matter what sleep issues you’re having, there’s likely a solution, especially if you talk to your doctor about what’s going on. Your doctor may recommend a variety of different solutions, but it’s important that you take the problem seriously. Getting enough sleep can help you to keep being a caregiver far longer than you might have thought you could.
Don’t wait or put off solving your sleep issues. Talk to your doctor sooner rather than later.
If you or an aging loved one needs a Caregiver in Carmichael, CA, remember Senior Home Care Services. Call us at (916) 514-7006 for more information.
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