Some people over age 60 have few, if any, classic
hypothyroidism symptoms, while others experience the same symptoms younger
people do. Still others have hypothyroidism symptoms that are not typical at
all, making the diagnosis even more difficult. Any of the following signs and
symptoms can indicate hypothyroidism in an older person.
Unexplained high cholesterol. High cholesterol is sometimes
the only evidence of an underactive thyroid in an older person. The problem
might be diagnosed as a cholesterol disorder rather than hypothyroidism.
Because this sign may stand alone, high cholesterol warrants a thyroid
evaluation.
Heart failure. Reduced blood volume, weaker contractions of the heart muscle, and a slower heart rate—all caused by low thyroid hormone levels—can contribute to heart failure, a serious condition that occurs when your heart can't pump out enough blood to meet the needs of your body. The ineffective pumping also causes blood to back up in the veins that return blood to the heart. Blood backs up all the way into the lungs, which causes them to become congested with fluid. Symptoms of heart failure include breathlessness, swelling in the ankles, weakness, and fatigue.
Bowel movement changes. An older person with hypothyroidism
might have constipation because stool moves more slowly through the bowels. A
less common hypothyroidism symptom is frequent bouts of diarrhea—a problem more
typically associated with hyperthyroidism. Some people with an autoimmune
thyroid disease such as Hashimoto's also have celiac disease, another
autoimmune condition that can cause diarrhea.
Joint or muscle pain. Vague joint pain is a classic hypothyroidism symptom. It sometimes is the only symptom of hypothyroidism in an older person. Many people experience general muscle aches, particularly in large muscle groups like those in the legs.
Psychiatric problems. Clinical depression—a common symptom
in younger people with hypothyroidism—can also affect older people with the
condition. The difference is that in older people it can be the only
hypothyroidism symptom. Some older adults also develop psychosis with
delusional behavior or hallucinations.
Dementia. Debilitating memory loss that is often, but not
always, accompanied by depression or psychosis can also be the lone symptom of
hypothyroidism. If you or a loved one is being evaluated for dementia, make
sure that a thyroid test is part of the evaluation.
Balance problems. Hypothyroidism can lead to abnormalities
in the cerebellum (a region at the back of the brain that's involved in motor
control). This may cause problems with walking in older people.
Source: Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
The Special Needs of the Senior Cat
Suggested
Articles
Cognitive Dysfunction
Is Your Cat Slowing Down?
Is It Time to Say Good-Bye?
Video: Brushing Your Cat’s Teeth
Diagnosis: Heart Disease
Chronic Kidney Disease
Just as people are living longer
than they did in the past, cats are living longer too, and there is every
reason to expect that the "graying" cat population will continue to
grow.
How old is my cat in human years?
Cats are individuals and, like people, they experience advancing years in their
own unique ways. Many cats begin to encounter age-related physical changes
between seven and ten years of age, and most do so by the time they are 12. The
commonly held belief that every "cat year" is worth seven "human
years" is not entirely accurate. In reality, a one-year-old cat is
physiologically similar to a 16-year-old human, and a two-year-old cat is like
a person of 21. For every year thereafter, each cat year is worth about four
human years. Using this formula, a ten-year-old cat is similar age wise to a
53-year-old person, a 12-year-old cat to a 61-year-old person, and a
15-year-old cat to a person of 73.
Advancing age is not a disease
Aging is a natural process. Although many complex
physical changes accompany advancing years, age in and of itself is not a
disease. Even though many conditions that affect older cats are not
correctable, they can often be controlled. The key to making sure your senior
cat has the healthiest and highest quality of life possible is to recognize and
reduce factors that may be health risks, detect disease as early as possible,
correct or delay the progression of disease, and improve or maintain the health
of the body's systems.
What happens as my cat ages?
The aging process is accompanied by many physical and behavioral changes:
Is my cat sick, or is it just old age?
Never assume that changes you see in your older cat are simply due to old age,
and are therefore untreatable. Owners of older cats often notice changes in
their cat's behavior, but consider these changes an inevitable and untreatable
result of aging. However, any alteration in your cat's behavior or physical
condition should alert you to contact your veterinarian.
Disease of virtually any organ system, or any condition that causes pain or impairs mobility can contribute to changes in behavior. For example:
How can I help keep my senior cat healthy?
Close observation is one of the most important tools you have to help keep your
senior cat healthy. You may wish to perform a basic physical examination on a
weekly basis. Ask your veterinarian to show you how to do it and what to look
for. You will find it easier if you just make the examination an extension of
the way you normally interact with your cat. For example, while you are rubbing
your cat's head or scratching its chin, gently raise the upper lips with your
thumb or forefinger so you can examine the teeth and gums. In the same way, you
can lift the ear flaps and examine the ear canals. While you are stroking your
cat's fur, you can check for abnormal lumps or bumps, and evaluate the health
of the skin and coat.
Daily Brushing
Daily brushing or combing removes loose hairs, preventing them from being
swallowed and forming hairballs. Brushing also stimulates blood circulation and
sebaceous gland secretions, resulting in a healthier skin and coat. Older cats
may not use scratching posts as frequently as they did when they were younger;
therefore, nails should be checked weekly and trimmed if necessary.
Daily Tooth Brushing
Brushing your cat's teeth with a pet-specific toothpaste or powser is the
single most effective way to prevent dental disease. Dental disease is more
common in older cats and can lead to other health problems, so maintaining oral
health is important. Most cats will allow their teeth to be brushed, although
it may be necessary to gradually introduce your cat to tooth brushing over
several weeks to months. Watch this video for
instructions on how to brush your cat's teeth.
Proper Nutrition
Many cats get heavier or even obese as they age. If your cat is overweight, you
should ask your veterinarian to help you modify the diet so that a normal body condition
can be restored. Other cats actually become too thin as they get older. Weight
loss can be caused by a variety of medical problems such as kidney failure, and
special diets may be helpful in managing these problems.
Reducing Stress
Reducing environmental stress whenever possible is very important since older
cats are usually less adaptable to change. Special provisions should be made
for older cats that must be boarded for a period of time. Having a familiar
object, such as a blanket or toy, may prevent the cat from becoming too
distraught in a strange environment. A better alternative is to have the older
cat cared for at home by a neighbor, friend, or relative. Introducing a new pet
may be a traumatic experience for older cats, and should be avoided whenever
possible. Moving to a new home can be equally stressful, however, stress can be
alleviated by giving the older cat more affection and attention during times of
emotional upheaval.
Cats are experts at hiding illness, and elderly cats are no exception. It is common for a cat to have a serious medical problem, yet not show any sign of it until the condition is quite advanced. Since most diseases can be managed more successfully when detected and treated early in their course, it is important for owners of senior cats to carefully monitor their behavior and health.
How can my veterinarian help?
Just as your observations can help detect disease in the early stages, so too
can regular veterinary examinations. Your veterinarian may suggest evaluating
your healthy senior cat more frequently than a younger cat. If your cat has a
medical condition, more frequent evaluations may also be necessary. During your
cat's examination, the veterinarian will gather a complete medical and
behavioral history, perform a thorough physical examination in order to
evaluate every organ system, check your cat's weight and body condition, and
compare them to previous evaluations. At least once a year, certain tests,
including blood tests, fecal examination, and urine analysis, may be suggested.
In this way, disorders can be found and treated early, and ongoing medical
conditions can be appraised. Both are necessary to keep your senior cat in the
best possible health.
Should I adopt an older cat?
A special group of senior cats that deserves particular attention is older cats
in shelters. While young cats and kittens are attractive to most potential
adopters due to their cuteness and playfulness, senior cats are often
overlooked by people considering adopting a cat. If people keep their minds
open, they will find that there are countless older cats that would make
excellent pets and would brighten up any home. Older cats in shelters are often
more calm, are more likely to be litter trained, and can provide wonderful
companionship to anyone kind enough to take them into their home. The next time
you are at the shelter, take some time to check out these mature felines.
Taking them home can make both of your lives richer, happier, and more
satisfying.
Probiotics can do more than improve your gut health. They also may indirectly enhance your brain, too.
Research shows that the gut and brain are connected, a partnership called the gut-brain axis. The two are linked through biochemical signaling between the nervous system in the digestive tract, called the enteric nervous system, and the central nervous system, which includes the brain. The primary information connection between the brain and gut is the vagus nerve, the longest nerve in the body.
The gut has been called a "second brain" because it produces many of the same neurotransmitters as the brain does, like serotonin, dopamine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid, all of which play a key role in regulating mood. In fact, it is estimated that 90% of serotonin is made in the digestive tract.
What affects the gut often affects the brain and vice versa. When your brain senses trouble—the fight-or-flight response—it sends warning signals to the gut, which is why stressful events can cause digestive problems like a nervous or upset stomach. On the flip side, flares of gastrointestinal issues like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn's disease, or chronic constipation may trigger anxiety or depression.
The brain-gut axis works in other ways, too. For example, your gut helps regulate appetite by telling the brain when it's time to stop eating. About 20 minutes after you eat, gut microbes produce proteins that can suppress appetite, which coincides with the time it often takes people to begin feeling full.
How might probiotics fit in the gut-brain axis? Some research has found that probiotics may help boost mood and cognitive function and lower stress and anxiety. For example, a study published online Nov. 10, 2016, by Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience found that Alzheimer's patients who took milk made with four probiotic bacteria species for 12 weeks scored better on a test to measure cognitive impairment compared with those who drank regular milk.
A small 2013 study reported in the journal Gastroenterology found that women who ate yogurt with a mix of probiotics, twice a day for four weeks, were calmer when exposed to images of angry and frightened faces compared with a control group. MRIs also found that the yogurt group had lower activity in the insula, the brain area that processes internal body sensations like those emanating from the gut.
It's too early to determine the exact role probiotics play in the gut-brain axis since this research is still ongoing. Probiotics may not only support a healthier gut, but a healthier brain, too.
Published: May, 2019
A near-daily serving of nuts may lower the risk of cardiovascular disease in people with type 2 diabetes, new research suggests. The study, published online February 19 by Circulation Research, relied on diet surveys from more than 16,000 people before and after they were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, a condition that elevates the risk of heart disease. Researchers asked them about their nut-eating habits over a period of several years. People who ate five servings of nuts per week had a 17% lower risk of cardiovascular disease compared with those who ate less than a serving per week.
Chock full of unsaturated fat, fiber, and minerals, nuts can help control blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol. Tree nuts, which include walnuts, almonds, and pistachios, seemed to offer the strongest benefits in the study. Peanuts, which aren't technically nuts but legumes, weren't quite as healthy. While this study can't prove cause and effect, eating a small handful of unsalted nuts on most days will likely help your heart, even if you don't have diabetes.
Right now the world is experiencing an epidemic that is projected to get much, much worse. It’s an epidemic of dementia, affecting 50 million people and millions more of their caregivers — staggering numbers that are projected to triple by 2050.
The dementia crisis is such a massive worldwide issue that the World Health Organization (WHO) announced a strategic public health action plan, including compiling an organized database of quality dementia research and creating guidelines for the prevention of dementia. The guidelines have just been published, a 96-page document that is summarized here, as well as in this post.
Dementia is a progressive, heartbreaking deterioration of brain functioning associated with aging. While there are different causes, the most common — Alzheimer’s and vascular dementias — are now thought to be closely related to, and greatly impacted by, the same diet and lifestyle factors.
Your diet and lifestyle can lower your risk of dementia
Several key protective health habits are highly recommended:
Regular physical activity — any activity, for at least 150 minutes per week, is number one on the list of evidence-based actions you can take. Exercise clearly lowers the risk of dementia, even Alzheimer’s. Studies show that people who exercise more are less likely to develop dementia of any kind, and this stands even for adults with mild cognitive impairment.
Eating a plant-based diet is crucial. There is substantial research evidence showing that eating a diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and seafood is associated with a significantly lower risk of cognitive decline and dementia. This approach to eating is often referred to as the Mediterranean-style diet, but it can be adapted to any culture or cuisine.
The WHO also recommends avoiding toxic, inflammatory foods like processed grains (white flour, white rice), added sugar, sodium, and saturated fats like butter and fatty meat. It’s important to note that the WHO does not recommend taking any vitamins or supplements for brain health, because there is no solid evidence showing that these have any effect whatsoever. Just eat a healthy plant-based diet and avoid unhealthy foods as much as possible.
The WHO also issues strong recommendations to avoid or quit smoking and to minimize alcohol use, especially in those who already have cognitive concerns.
They mention additional lifestyle factors that have less evidence but may also help: getting enough good sleep, positive relationships, and social engagement have been shown to protect cognition.
What’s fascinating about these dementia prevention guidelines is how similar they are to those for heart disease prevention.
How is heart health related to cognitive health?
We have long known that the diseases and conditions that clog the arteries of the heart also clog the arteries of the rest of the body, including the brain. It all boils down to damage of the arteries, the blood vessels that are critical for blood flow and oxygen delivery to the organs. Arterial damage leads to arterial blockages, which lead to heart disease and heart attacks, strokes, peripheral vascular disease, and vascular dementia.
Meanwhile, Alzheimer’s disease used to be thought of as a different process, because the brains of people with Alzheimer’s seemed to be full of tangled tube-shaped proteins (neurofibrillary tangles). However, more and more research is linking Alzheimer’s dementia to the same risk factors that cause heart disease, strokes, peripheral vascular disease, and vascular dementias: obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
The evidence is substantial: studies show that people with these risk factors are significantly more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. Meanwhile, studies also show that people with Alzheimer’s disease have significantly reduced brain blood flow, and autopsy studies show that brains affected by Alzheimer’s can also have significant vascular damage.
Researchers are now focusing on why this is — what is the connection? It appears that good brain blood flow is key for clearing those tubular proteins that can accumulate and become tangled in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, and so one solid hypothesis is that anything that reduces brain blood flow can increase the risk for Alzheimer’s, and conversely, anything that increases blood flow can reduce the risk for Alzheimer’s.
What’s the take-home message?
Even if someone has a family history of dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s dementia, and even if they already have mild cognitive impairment (forgetfulness, confusion), they can still reduce their risk of developing dementia by simply living a heart-healthy lifestyle. That means a minimum of 150 minutes per week of activity, a plant-based diet aiming for at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily, avoiding toxic foods like processed grains, added sugars, sodium, and saturated fats, avoiding or quitting smoking, and curbing alcohol use as much as possible.
Selected resources
WHO Dementia Prevention Guidelines Executive Summary
AHA/ACC Guideline on the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease
Association of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension with cognitive impairment in older age. Clinical Epidemiology, July 25, 2018.
Vascular and metabolic factors in Alzheimer’s diseases and related dementias. Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, March 2016.
Defining the relationship between hypertension, cognitive decline, and dementia: a review. Current Hypertension Reports, March 2017.
Mediterranean diet, cognitive function, and dementia: A
systematic review of the evidence. Advances in Nutrition,
September 2016.
People who increased their daily servings of red meat over an eight-year period were more likely to die during the subsequent eight years than those who did not increase their red meat consumption, according to a new study led by researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The study also found that decreasing red meat and simultaneously increasing healthy alternative food choices over time was associated with lower mortality.
A large body of evidence has shown that greater consumption of red meat, especially processed red meat, is associated with higher risk of Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, certain types of cancers, including those of the colon and rectum, and premature death. This is the first longitudinal study to examine how changes in red meat consumption over time may influence that risk.
For this study, researchers used health data from 53,553 women in the Nurses’ Health Study and 27,916 men in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study who were free of cardiovascular disease and cancer at baseline. They looked at whether changes in red meat consumption from 1986 to 1994 predicted mortality in 1994 to 2002, and whether changes from 1994 to 2002 predicted mortality in 2002 to 2010.
Increasing total processed meat intake by half a daily serving or more was associated with a 13 percent higher risk of mortality from all causes. The same amount of unprocessed meat increased mortality risk by 9 percent. The researchers also found significant associations between increased red meat consumption and increased deaths due to cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and neurodegenerative disease.
The association of increases in red meat consumption with increased relative risk of premature mortality was consistent across participants irrespective of age, physical activity level, dietary quality, smoking status, or alcohol consumption, according to the researchers.
Study results also showed that, overall, a decrease in red meat together with an increase in nuts, fish, poultry without skin, dairy, eggs, whole grains, or vegetables over eight years was associated with a lower risk of death in the subsequent eight years.
The researchers suggest that the association may be due to a combination of components that promote cardiometabolic disturbances, including saturated fat, cholesterol, heme iron, preservatives, and carcinogenic compounds produced by high-temperature cooking. Red meat consumption also was linked recently to gut microbiota-derived metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), which might promote atherosclerosis.
“This long-term study provides further evidence that reducing red meat intake while eating other protein foods or more whole grains and vegetables may reduce risk of premature death,” said senior author Frank Hu, Fredrick J. Stare Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology and chair, Department of Nutrition. “To improve both human health and environmental sustainability, it is important to adopt a Mediterranean-style or other diet that emphasizes healthy plant foods.”
The first author of the study is Yan Zheng, a former postdoctoral associate in the Department of Nutrition at Harvard Chan School and now a professor at Fudan University, Shanghai, China. Other Harvard Chan School authors include Yanping Li, Ambika Satija, Mercedes Sotos-Prieto, Eric Rimm, and Walter Willett. The study cohorts were supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, and the current study was supported by grants from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, and the Boston Obesity Nutrition Research Center.
One of the easiest, and maybe most effective, ways to gauge your health can be done in 30 seconds with two fingers. Measuring your resting heart rate (RHR) — the number of heart beats per minute while you’re at rest — is a real-time snapshot of how your heart muscle is functioning.
It’s easy to do. Place your index and middle finger on your wrist just below the thumb, or along either side of your neck, so you can feel your pulse. Use a watch to count the number of beats for 30 seconds and double it to get your beats per minute. Repeat a few times to ensure an accurate reading. While a heart rate is considered normal if the rate is between 60 and 100 beats per minute, most healthy relaxed adults have a resting heart rate below 90 beats per minute.
Your resting heart rate, when considered in the context of other markers, such as blood pressure and cholesterol, can help identify potential health problems as well as gauge your current heart health.
“In certain cases, a lower resting heart rate can mean a higher degree of physical fitness, which is associated with reduced rates of cardiac events like heart attacks,” says Dr. Jason Wasfy, director of quality and analytics at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital Heart Center. “However, a high resting heart rate could be a sign of an increased risk of cardiac risk in some situations, as the more beats your heart has to take eventually takes a toll on its overall function.”
In fact, research has found that a resting heart rate near the top of the 60 to 100 range can increase your risk for cardiovascular disease and even early death.
For example, a 2013 study in the journal Heart tracked the cardiovascular health of about 3,000 men for 16 years and found that a high resting heart rate was linked with lower physical fitness and higher blood pressure, body weight, and levels of circulating blood fats. The researchers also discovered that the higher a person’s resting heart rate, the greater the risk of premature death. Specifically, an RHR between 81 and 90 doubled the chance of death, while an RHR higher than 90 tripled it.
While a low resting heart rate often suggests greater physical fitness, some situations can make your RHR too low, which may cause occasional dizziness or fatigue. “This may be the result of the electrical nodes of the heart aging, or not transmitting electrical signals correctly,” says Dr. Wasfy. “You should report these symptoms to your health care provider.”
Dr. Wasfy recommends checking your resting heart rate a few times per week and at different times of the day. Keep in mind that the number can be influenced by many factors, including stress and anxiety, circulating hormones, and medications such as antidepressants and blood pressure drugs.
Talk with your doctor if your resting heart rate is regularly on the high end. There are ways to lower it and keep it within its proper range. One example is keeping your cholesterol levels in check. High levels restrict blood flow through the arteries and damage blood vessels, which can make your heart beat faster than normal to move blood through the body.
Another reliable way to lower your resting heart rate is to exercise. “Even small amounts of exercise can make a change,” says Dr. Wasfy. However, the intensity of the exercise is key. One study that involved 55-year-old adults found that just one hour per week of high-intensity aerobic training (about 66% of maximum effort) lowered RHR more efficiently than a low-intensity effort (33% of max effort).
Tips for measuring your resting heart rate
Do not take your RHR within one to two hours after exercise or a stressful event. Your heart rate can stay elevated after strenuous activities.
Wait at least an hour after consuming caffeine, which can cause heart palpitations and make your heart rate rise.
The American Heart Association recommends checking your resting heart rate first thing in the morning (but before you get out of bed).
Source: The University of Pennsylvania
White coat hypertension, a condition in which a patient’s blood pressure readings are higher when taken at the doctor’s office compared to other settings, was originally attributed to the anxiety patients might experience during medical appointments. However, over the years, research has suggested the elevated readings might be a sign of underlying risk for future health problems.
A new study led by
researchers from Penn Medicine, published today in the Annals of Internal Medicine,
revealed that patients with untreated white coat hypertension not only
have a heightened risk of heart disease, but they are twice as likely to
die from heart disease than people with normal blood pressure.
Researchers also found that patients with white coat hypertension who were taking medication to treat their high blood pressure, called antihypertensives, did not have an increased risk of heart disease or cardiovascular-related death compared to those with normal blood pressure readings.
“Studies suggest that about one in five adults may have white coat hypertension. Our findings underscore the importance of identifying people with this condition,” said the study’s lead author Jordana B. Cohen, MD, MSCE, an assistant professor in the division of Renal-Electrolyte and Hypertension and a senior scholar in the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics.
“We believe individuals with isolated in-office hypertension – those who are not taking blood pressure medication – should be closely monitored for transition to sustained hypertension, or elevated blood pressure both at home and the doctor’s office.”
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a defined as a top reading of at least 130 or a bottom one of 80. The condition affects nearly a third of American adults and, if left untreated, increases one’s risk for severe complications, including heart attack and stroke.
To diagnose and manage the condition, recent hypertension guidelines strongly recommend out-of-office blood pressure monitoring, such as at-home monitoring and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, which requires patients to wear a portable device that records blood pressure readings over a 24-hour period. However, providers have been slow to adopt this practice due, in part, to skepticism over the usefulness of screening for white coat hypertension given the inconsistent findings – from past studies – and uncertainty around its association with heart disease and death.
To identify the cardiovascular risks of white coat hypertension, the researchers conducted a meta-analysis of 27 studies, comprising more than 60,000 patients, that evaluated the health risks associated with the condition.
They found that patients with untreated white coat
hypertension had a 36 percent increased risk of heart disease, 33
percent increased risk of death and 109 percent increased risk of death
from heart disease.
“Our findings support the pressing need for increased out-of-office blood pressure monitoring nationwide, as it’s critical in the diagnosis and management of hypertension,” Cohen said. “Simultaneously, we advise individuals with untreated white coat hypertension to engage in lifestyle modifications, including smoking cessation, reduction in their alcohol intake, and making improvements to their diet and exercise regimens.
We also caution providers not to over-treat individuals with white coat hypertension who are already on blood pressure medication, as this could lead to dangerously low blood pressures outside of the office and unnecessary side effects from medication.”
Researchers noted that future studies are needed to investigate
interventions to reduce the cardiac risk of white coat hypertension. This work was supported, in part, by a grant from the National
Institutes of Health (K23-HL133843). Additional Penn authors on the
study include Matthew G. Denker, Debbie L. Cohen and Raymond R.
Townsend.
Many people skimp on sleep during the week and try to make up for lost time on the weekend. But a study published February 28 in Current Biology shows this strategy won't necessarily reverse the ill effects of sleep deprivation on your body.
The study, conducted in a sleep lab, tested the health effects of three sleep strategies over a two-week period. Participants in one group were allowed to sleep up to nine hours a night. Those in a second group were limited to five hours a night. People in the third group slept five hours nightly during the week, but were allowed to sleep in on Saturday and Sunday.
Researchers found that people who were sleep-deprived — defined as getting less than seven hours a night — experienced changes to their metabolism, showed a 13% drop in insulin sensitivity, and gained an average of three pounds throughout the course of the study. The group allowed to catch up on sleep over the weekend saw no improvement in those markers, and researchers found that their sleep quality actually deteriorated when they went back to their five-hour weekday sleep schedule.
The message is this: Rather than playing catch-up on the weekend,
it's far better to stick to a consistent sleep schedule that allows for
at least seven hours a night.