By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    headphones can create health problems
    The Harmful Health Effects of Using Headphones
    September 24, 2021
    Headache causes
    4 Causes Of Headache You Probably Didn’t Know About
    December 28, 2021
    follow these steps to recover from your injury
    What Steps Should You Take to Recover More Quickly from an Injury?
    April 12, 2022
    Latest News
    7 Most Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs: Which Should You Use?
    August 20, 2025
    Hospital Pest Control and the Fight Against Superbugs
    August 20, 2025
    Hygiene Beyond The Clinic: Attention To Overlooked Non-Clinical Spaces
    August 13, 2025
    5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
    August 3, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    private
    Private Exchanges: Getting Ready for Individual Health Insurance to Be the Standard
    January 9, 2014
    valueable healthcare programs
    5 Most Valuable Healthcare Programs in 2023
    March 8, 2023
    Johnson & Johnson to Release Clinical Trial Data in Agreement with Yale Medical School
    February 4, 2014
    Latest News
    How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
    August 22, 2025
    How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
    August 22, 2025
    How One Fall Can Lead to a Long Road of Medical Complications
    August 22, 2025
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: The Overlooked Health Cost of Poor Sleep
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Wellness > The Overlooked Health Cost of Poor Sleep
Wellness

The Overlooked Health Cost of Poor Sleep

Chronic lack of sleep quietly damages the body and increases the risk of serious health problems.

Alice Jackson
Alice Jackson
Share
6 Min Read
health effects of poor sleep
AI-Generated Image from Google Labs
SHARE

There are a lot of issues that can lead to health problems. Insomnia is among them.

Contents
  • Why sleep changes with age
  • Why good sleep is important
  • How a live-in carer can help you to sleep better
  • Creating a sleep-friendly environment

Sleep is a strong force in the maintenance of physical and mental health, yet millions of people do not get enough sleep. About 35% of American adults get fewer than seven hours of sleep each night, less than their bodies need to fully recover. Such chronic deficiency is not just a case of mild drowsiness — an estimated 50 to 70 million Americans are afflicted with sleep disorders. Even though sleep is as fundamental as food and water, 1 out of every 3 adults still fail to get the recommended amount on a daily basis, which leads to a cascade of health problems.

In patients who already have medical conditions, the problem gets worse. 23% to 73% of patients with heart failure have symptoms of insomnia, which complicates recovery and daily functioning even further. Research has shown that people with insomnia have a 45% higher risk of cardiovascular disease, linking bad sleep to long-term damage that can affect major organs. When sleep is disrupted night after night, the body has fewer chances to deal with stress, repair tissues, or keep inflammation at bay — all of which contribute to overall health hazards.

Ageing brings numerous problems for many of us. One of these is poor sleep, which often contributes to health problems and, in some cases, can cause certain health problems. It is very common for older adults to experience gradual changes in their ability to get to sleep. Something we hear regularly from elderly people is the lament that when once they could fall asleep at the drop of a hat, now they either can’t fall asleep or, if they do, they can’t remain asleep. This is something we tackled in a previous article.

More Read

healthcare business
The Power of Movement: Overcoming Injuries with Proven PT Techniques
Neurocounseling Used to Help Treat Depression
Hearing Loss Can Result in Brain Loss in Elders
More Health Spending Doesn’t Equal Better Health
Most Caregiving is Unpaid Labor

Why sleep changes with age

Older people become more prone to sleep disturbances such as excessive noise, temperature fluctuations or irregular bedtime routines. Some health conditions or medications disturb sleep. Conditions like depression can also have a detrimental effect on sleep.

In some, where there are no health or medication issues, sleep can still be elusive. This is down to changes in the body’s internal clock, the circadian rhythms which tell us when we feel hungry and when we feel tired.

Why good sleep is important

Good sleep is important at any age but even more so when we get older. When the inability to sleep becomes ingrained this can affect all aspects of physical health because it makes us feel under the weather and energy depleted. It can increase the risk of illnesses such as diabetes and can make us more prone to accidents.

Lack of sleep can have a severe effect on the brain. Research has shown:

  • Poor sleep affects thinking skills
  • Getting an average seven to eight hours of sleep a night benefits mental and physical health
  • A regular sleep/wake routine is vital for better overall health

How a live-in carer can help you to sleep better

A carer living with you 24/7 can help you establish and maintain a consistent sleep schedule by ensuring you go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. This may be difficult initially but eventually it will help to regulate your body clock. The live-in carer can ensure pre-bedtime medications are taken on time to minimise sleep disruption.

Before you go to bed, your carer will make sure your food and drink intake will not lead to disruptions due to thirst or frequent bathroom trips.

Creating a sleep-friendly environment

Your caregiver can relieve your anxiety around mobility issues by helping you to get in and out of bed safely. They can help create the perfect ambience for sleeping by adjusting lighting, room temperature and bedding. All of this reduces nighttime anxiety and disturbances while ensuring your comfort.

For those with dementia or who are afraid of the dark, having a carer there to provide companionship and reassurance helps to reduce any after-dark restlessness, worry or confusion.

Knowing that there is someone on hand at all times to assist with your nighttime needs offers peace of mind and reduces anxiety and stress, leading to a more consistent deeper restful sleep to help you face the morning feeling rejuvenated and ready to face the day.

TAGGED:insomniasleep better
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share
By Alice Jackson
Follow:
Alice Jackson is a business consultant, blogger, social media enthusiast, online market analyst, amateur designer and an avid author at Designhill. She has written on several topics including social media marketing, SEO, content marketing, startup strategies and e-commerce. When she’s not writing, she loves spending her time reading romantic novels. Connect with her on Twitter: @jackson_alice1

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

engineer fitting prosthetic arm
How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
Health care
August 20, 2025
a woman explaining the document
How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
Public Health
August 20, 2025
physiotherapist at work
How One Fall Can Lead to a Long Road of Medical Complications
Health care
August 20, 2025
Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs
7 Most Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs: Which Should You Use?
Health News
August 20, 2025

You Might also Like

JJ and the kitchen
Public HealthWellness

Obesity and Patients

July 15, 2013
healthcare workers vacation
Wellness

Why Its Important for Health Professionals to Take Vacations

March 14, 2021
Medical InnovationsTechnologyWellness

6 Technologies Changing Healthcare for Mobility-Constrained Seniors

January 24, 2018
Health careHome HealthSpecialtiesWellness

6 Supplements That Can Help Improve Your Health

May 15, 2019
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?