How Much Sleep DO You Need A Night? [STUDY]
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted November 16, 2022
I’m sure you know that getting enough sleep is good for you.
But what does that mean, exactly?
It’s always been hard to get a straight answer. Until now, that is.
Thanks to new research we have an answer to that question.
The newly published 25-year study compares the sleep habits of over 7,000 men and women 50 or older to the likelihood of them being diagnosed with a chronic disease. And the research reached some pretty surprising conclusions.
When study volunteers who slept five hours or fewer a night were compared to those who slept seven or more, they short sleepers were…
- 20 percent MORE likely to be diagnosed with a chronic disease such as heart disease, cancer, or diabetes
- 30 to 40 percent MORE likely to be diagnosed with TWO or more chronic diseases
The “five-or-fewer” sleepers were also 25 percent more likely to die from ANY cause throughout the study period. Which honestly is no surprise with such a steep rise in risk for chronic illnesses
If you’re one of those folks who doesn’t sleep well, you’re not alone. It’s a common problem, especially among older adults. In fact, experts estimate that 30 to 40 percent of seniors battle insomnia.
Getting five or fewer hours of shuteye a night puts you in the danger zone.
But you CAN fight back, starting with my 5 Tips for Peaceful Sleep…
- White noise: Many folks find using a fan or a white-noise generator helps them fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly. You’ll find a selection of white noise apps in your smartphone’s app store. Or you can buy a white-noise machine or small room fan.
- Be consistent: Try to go to bed and wake up around the same time every day. Establishing a schedule and sticking to it helps your body prepare for sleep.
- Use herbs at night: Many herbs can help you sleep, including chamomile, passionflower, hops, and valerian. You can take them as a tea or in supplement form.
- Pain: A common cause of sleeplessness in seniors is pain (back pain, arthritis, etc.). You can dial down the ache without resorting to harmful pain meds by using fish oil (EPA/DHA), turmeric, Boswellia, and other natural pain relievers.
- 5HTP: 5 hydroxytryptophan or 5HTP is a neurotransmitter or a brain chemical that helps improve mood by enhancing serotonin production. The neurotransmitter also helps to naturally increase melatonin in the body. Taking 5HTP has been proven to boost sleep quality, improve mood, decrease pain, and even improve digestion.
- Melatonin: Your brain produces the hormone melatonin in response to darkness. Melatonin helps prepare us for sleep. But exposure to bright lights and backlit computer screens can reduce our production of the hormone. Plus, we tend to produce less melatonin as we grow older. Melatonin supplements can help boost your levels again.
P.S. Researchers have found that this nighttime threat could DESTROY your blood sugar AND your sleep. Discover what it is… and what to do about it… here.
Source:
“Association of sleep duration at age 50, 60, and 70 years with risk of multimorbidity in the UK: 25-year follow-up of the Whitehall II cohort study.” PLOS Medicine, 2022; 19 (10): e1004109 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1004109
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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