26Aug 2020 by Rosanne Ullman
What’s the Big Deal About Balance, and How Can it Affect You as You Age?

What’s the Big Deal About Balance, and How Can it Affect You as You Age?

Health content
At least 1 out of every 4 Americans aged 65 and older experience a fall each year. That’s more than 29 million falls with 7 million injuries in just a year’s time! It’s easy to think that you are safe from falling—until the day where you take your own tumble. Fortunately, it’s easy to get your balance assessed and do some simple exercises to keep yourself upright as long as possible. Balance problems can stem from a number of factors. Vision problems can affect balance As we age, our eyesight tends to get worse. This can affect balance in major ways. If you can’t see, you won’t be able to accurately assess your environment for hazards such as uneven flooring and slippery surfaces. Eye problems not necessarily associated with aging…
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12Aug 2020 by Rosanne Ullman
Why Sleep Changes When You Get Older (And How to Get Better Rest)

Why Sleep Changes When You Get Older (And How to Get Better Rest)

Health content, knowledge
Seniors and sleep often have a complicated relationship, leading older adults to question whether sleep is a friend or foe. Insomnia plagues nearly 50% of adults 65 and older, and millions more toss and turn every night because of other sleep-disrupting factors. Some seniors give up on eight hours of sleep altogether, rationalizing that they need less sleep now that they’re older. But our time needed in slumberland doesn’t change as we age. What does change are our sleep patterns—or our sleep "architecture." Even with the sleep changes we experience, we have ways to make sure we’re getting better, more restful sleep. Normal sleep vs. aging sleep Normally, people go through multiple sleep cycles at night. Each cycle lasts 90-110 minutes and consists of two states. The non-rapid eye movement…
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