How many hours of sleep do elderly people need?

Muscat: The elderly need to sleep for approximately seven to eight hours per day to avoid heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes and to enhance mental activity, and maintain cardiovascular health, the Gulf Health Council (GHC), said.

The Gulf Health Council states through its official accounts on social media, via its awareness series The Rumor of the Week that a common question among many people is about the normal sleep rate of the elderly. Many believe that with age, the sleep rate decreases. But the truth, according to specialists in the same field, is that the elderly need to sleep at the same rate as adults, with approximately seven to eight hours of sleep per day.

The council cautioned that lack of sleep is a major factor contributing to several diseases including heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. On the other hand, moderate sleep with sufficient hours contributes to maintaining the immune system in the elderly and also helps to maintain weight, enhances mental activity, and maintains cardiovascular health.