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Want to live longer? Then prioritize sleep in your life:

Evidence suggests that getting enough sleep can have numerous health benefits, including improved longevity.

Sleep is a necessary component of good physical health, and research conducted by the National Institutes of Health suggest that insufficient sleep can be associated with a range of issues, such as increased risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and depression. Moreover, studies suggest that getting enough sleep can help regulate the body’s metabolism and help it to repair itself on a cellular level, which can lead to a longer lifespan. Therefore, it is important to get the right amount of sleep in order to ensure optimal health and longevity. – MCP staff

Sleep this way to add almost 5 years to your life

According to CNN article  by Sandy LaMotte

“Want to live longer? Then prioritize sleep in your life: Following five good sleep habits added nearly five years to a man’s life expectancy and almost 2.5 years to a woman’s life, a new study found.”

“If people have all these ideal sleep behaviors, they are more likely to live longer,” said study coauthor Dr. Frank Qian

If we can improve sleep overall, and identifying sleep disorders is especially important, we may be able to prevent some of this premature mortality,” Qian said in a statement.

What do you do? First, make sure you get a full seven to eight hours of sleep each night. That’s tough for many people: 1 in 3 Americans have a sleep deficit, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”

But you have to do more than just lay in bed longer — you also need have to have an uninterrupted, restful sleep more often than not. That means you don’t wake up during the night or have trouble falling asleep more than two times a week. You also have to feel well rested at least five days a week when you wake up. And finally, you can’t be using sleep medications to achieve your slumber.”

We’re talking about not just quality and quantity of sleep, but regularity,…”

Good Sleep Hygiene

“The good news is that you can easily train your brain to better sleep by following what is called good “sleep hygiene.” It’s important to go to bed at the same time on most nights and get up at the same time most mornings — even on weekends and holidays.

Make sure your sleeping environment is optimal — cooler and darker is better — and block noise or try a sound machine. Avoid booze before bed — it may seem like you’re falling asleep more easily, but when your liver finishes metabolizing the alcohol at 3 a.m., your body will wake up, experts say.

Set up a sleep routine, with no blue lights or distractions at least an hour before bedtime. Try meditation, yoga, tai chi, warm baths — anything that relaxes you is great.”

Read the full CNN article here

 

Community Health and Wellbeing

For many, simple lifestyle changes and new habits may be enough.  Some quick searches on the Internet may provide more ideas for you.

If those aren’t enough:

  • Seek help from your medical doctor.
  • Trauma, (like living through the Holiday Farm Fire) may find more help with counseling.

 

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