The Power of Restorative Sleep
Submitted by Suzi Fox
Regional Sales Manager
TZMO USA Inc. – Seni
Have we as a society perhaps lost the ability to connect the dots? Maybe we have lost the dots altogether due to lack of sleep.
The Power of Restorative Sleep
We frequently hear the term “restorative sleep”, but have you ever wondered what it actually means? Restorative sleep is when an individual is able to sleep uninterrupted for 7-9 hours, allowing the body to recover, refresh, and revitalize itself. When sleep is continuous for this length of time, the mind and body can heal and be strengthened. Reparative sleep empowers the body to function at its highest capacity. When we get the rest that we need, the immune system is strengthened, and one’s energy tends to be at a higher level. Rejuvenating rest is key to faster recovery, well-being, and a positive emotional mindset.
There may be times when we find ourselves or our loved ones in the hospital due to unfortunate circumstances. The care and expertise of the professionals in such a setting can bring comfort, relief, and healing, all for which we are deeply grateful. In many cases, we hear the medical team suggest that the patient go home to get some “real rest”, and complete their recovery in the environment of their own home. The keyword here being “rest”. Many patients, unfortunately, may not reap the benefits of restorative sleep when they are interrupted through the night due to hospital care staff taking care of them as the patient or taking care of patients in the same hospital room. Hospitals are busy at all hours, thus making it challenging for people to sleep for any length of time without disturbances.
We understand the importance of someone being awakened every two hours for a check on their vitals, if necessary. While this is a crucial task, sleep becomes challenging. For perspective, can you imagine if a loved one was in their place of residence and someone came by to wake them up every two hours just to check on them? Many people would be beyond irritable after the first week, never mind the weeks that followed.
Most of us can appreciate that people become irritable without a good night’s rest. Can you imagine what it might feel like to go months or years without proper rest? And yet it happens. Systemically, we may wonder why the sleep-deprived person is so angry all the time. Why aren’t they participating in conversations? When are they going to be socially engaged again? Why aren’t they eating a full breakfast anymore, or choosing to only snack versus eat?
Have we as a society perhaps lost the ability to connect the dots? Maybe we have lost the dots altogether due to lack of sleep.
Did you know that 91 million adults in the US are currently sleep deprived?
Houston, we have a problem.
The health risks alone due to sleep deprivation should give us reason to take pause. Not only is sleep deprivation linked to lack of balance, obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes, but additionally, it fuels other concerns. Depression and the inability to concentrate or remember things can become huge challenges. Even premature death is linked to sleeping less than 6 hours a night. That is a scary statistic.
In older adults, Alzheimer’s and Dementia can sometimes be tied to chronic sleep deprivation. Lack of sleep may also lead to strokes, a weakened immune system, and increased anxiety. For these reasons, sleep deficiency should not be taken lightly.
For older individuals who are living with incontinence, uninterrupted sleep becomes even more challenging. Urge incontinence, for example, may cause a groggy person to awaken during the night, struggle to get to the toilet in time, and fall. Wet sheets and soiled garments due to incontinence is another example as to why people living with incontinence are more susceptible to falls. This gets even more complicated when they discover their sheets are wet, and now the bedding needs to be changed. This can hinder people from going back to sleep or ever entering a deep sleep.
There are products available to help eliminate these stressful situations, but the key is to choose products wisely. When looking for a solution, it’s best to seek out super absorbent, fully breathable, shaped pads, briefs, or pull ups with inner leak guards. Super absorbent incontinence products that yield more favorable outcomes will not have a plastic acquisition distribution layer. When a product has a plastic ADL, skin irritations, urinary tract infections, and skin breakdown can happen. People buying absorbent products should make purchases at a home medical supply store or an independent pharmacy, where staff are often trained and well-versed related to the construction features of these types of products.
Unfortunately, a person who is incontinent and gets frequent UTIs may never connect the dots between the incontinence product they are using and an undesirable outcome. A simple change in product to a high-performing product can be life-changing. Wearing a pad, brief, or pullup that performs well directly impacts the opportunity to have uninterrupted sleep at night. Proper sizing is also important, and people should consider their waist and hip size, versus their height and weight, to find a suitable, best-fitting product. Since anxiety can play a part in sleep deprivation, providing people with the proper products will help to eliminate that fear of having to get up at night. When individuals have experienced the comfort of a high-performing incontinence product, they learn to trust its performance and can live more comfortably. Their anxiety levels may diminish once they realize there is no need to worry about a potentially embarrassing situation from happening, thus often leading to more social engagement.
Caregivers for those living with incontinence also benefit from their loved one using high-quality products as they too can achieve a good night’s rest. How wonderful for a caregiver to no longer have to change sheets in the middle of the night and sleep instead! Two people sleeping at night comfortably, peacefully, is possible and can be achieved with the right continence care solutions.
Don’t underestimate the power of high-performing products either! Products designed well will typically only need to be changed 3-4 times in a 24-hour period versus 7, 8, 9, or more times when using inferior products. Remember to choose products that are 100% breathable, have inner leak guards, have no plastic acquisition distribution layer, and are made of soft materials for comfort. In a world filled with options, the wise choice is to select a product that keeps people safe and contributes to achieving restorative sleep. Now that’s powerful!
Sources:
https://www.prb.org/resources/new-evidence-on-sleeps-role-in-aging-and-chronic-disease/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9644466/
https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2013/13_0081.htm?
Submitted by Suzi Fox
Regional Sales Manager
TZMO USA Inc. – Seni
Suzi Fox is a Regional Sales Manager for Seni. She and Seni help people to live healthier, happier lifestyles with less worry. She believes dignity and confidence are two of the most important gifts we can give to others.