Family, we all know that life after retirement is suddenly leisurely, and many elderly people love to sleep more in the morning, thinking that this is to enjoy life and recuperate. But you know what? Recent studies can give us a wake-up call, the elderly sleep lazily every morning, which seems comfortable, but in fact it is not harmful to the body. Today I'm going to talk to everyone about the hidden health hazards behind this lazy sleep.

Let's talk about the biological clock and metabolism first. The human body is like a precision machine, and the biological clock is the precise clock, which controls our sleep, body temperature, hormone secretion, and metabolism. But if the elderly sleep lazily in the morning for a long time, it is like messing up the clock of this machine, the circadian rhythm is messed up, and all the functions of the body have to follow the "temper tantrum".

先講講代謝和肥胖的事兒。研究發現，過度睡眠會讓身體消耗能量的速度變慢，基礎代謝率也跟著降低。咱都清楚，老年人本身新陳代謝就比不上年輕人，要是還天天賴床，體重那可就像吹氣球一樣蹭蹭往上漲，一不小心就陷入肥胖的 “包圍圈”。而肥胖又像是個 “麻煩製造機”，糖尿病、高血壓、心血管疾病這些健康殺手，都可能因為它找上門來。就拿我家隔壁的張大爺來說，他退休後日子過得悠閒，每天早上都要睡到九十點，以前合身的衣服漸漸都穿不上了。去醫院一檢查，血壓、血糖都不太正常，醫生再三叮囑他，一定要調整作息，加強鍛煉。

There are also problems with insulin resistance and fluctuations in blood sugar. Irregular sleep habits can make the body less "sensitive" to insulin, and blood sugar control becomes a problem. Especially for diabetic patients, if they are still in bed for a long time, their blood sugar will rise and fall like a roller coaster, and the risk of diabetes complications will also be greatly increased. There is a 65-year-old Uncle Li, after retirement, he turned on the "lazy sleep mode", sleeping until three o'clock in the morning every day, and then taking a nap after dinner. Within a few months, my weight soared and my blood sugar went haywire. When I went to the hospital for a check-up, my insulin sensitivity decreased and my glycosylated hemoglobin increased. Later, under the advice of the doctor, he adjusted his work and rest, went to bed early and got up early, and insisted on walking every day, and his blood sugar slowly stabilized.

Let's talk about cardiovascular health. Early morning is the "high incidence period" of cardiovascular disease, when blood pressure fluctuates greatly, sympathetic nerves are excited, and blood viscosity increases. Getting up and moving normally can make blood circulation smoother, but if you stay in bed all the time, blood pressure regulation is prone to problems, and the pressure on the cardiovascular system will increase. In addition, lying in bed will also slow down the blood flow, further increase the viscosity of the blood, make it easier for blood clots to find the door, and the risk of diseases such as venous thrombosis and stroke will also increase. The grandmother I know, Grandma Wang, is in her 70s, and she usually likes to sleep lazily and has little activity. When I got up one morning, I suddenly felt that one limb was weak, so I rushed to the hospital, and was diagnosed with a mild stroke. According to the doctor's analysis, her irregular work and rest and long-term bed rest are important triggers.

Brain function can also be affected. Many people think that the more sleep you get, the more awake your brain is, but the opposite is true. Studies have shown that older adults who sleep more than 9 hours a day are associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline and senile dementia. The morning is the most active time for the brain, but lying in bed makes the brain in a state of "half-dreaming and half-waking", with memory loss and slow thinking. In the long run, this may accelerate the occurrence of Alzheimer's disease, which is often referred to as senile dementia.

In addition, morning sunlight can inhibit melatonin secretion, so that we can be refreshed during the day and sleep well at night. But if you always stay in bed and can't see the sun, the secretion of melatonin will be chaotic, the circadian rhythm will be out of balance, and the quality of sleep will become worse and worse, forming a vicious circle.

Immunity will also decrease. Long-term excessive sleep will inhibit the activity of immune cells, reduce immunity, bacteria and viruses will be easier to find the "little monsters", and the elderly will be prone to colds and infections. Moreover, gut health and the immune system are closely related, and too much sleep will affect the balance of intestinal flora, reduce digestive function, and increase the risk of gastrointestinal diseases.

Bone health should not be neglected either. If the elderly lie in bed for too long every day, muscle activity will decrease, muscle loss will be accelerated, muscle strength will become weaker, and the risk of falls and fractures will also be greatly increased. Moderate exercise in the morning can promote bone metabolism and enhance bone density. However, if you stay in bed all the time and do not exercise, the ability of your bones to absorb calcium will decrease, and the risk of osteoporosis will skyrocket.

Finally, the emotional aspect can also be affected. Dopamine is the "happy hormone" in the brain, and proper activity after waking up in the morning can promote its secretion and make people feel happy. However, if you stay in bed for a long time, you are prone to listlessness, low mood, and even increase the risk of depression. In addition, the longer the time spent in bed, the less time to interact with family and friends, the less social activities, the greater loneliness, and the damage to mental health.

[This content is a story-based medical and health science article, and any name, place name, or event that appears in the article except for the health science content is artistic processing, and it is not intended to offend or belittle any individual, group or organization. If there is any similarity, it is purely a coincidence, please read it rationally. 】

Proofread by Zhuang Wu