Winter 2010 - St. Joseph's Health Care London

36
MONSTER IN THE CLOSET:
Excess weight
SHINE SOME LIGHT ON IT: While lugging
around extra pounds during the day is exhausting
enough, trying to fi nd a restful position at
night is equally arduous.
“Being overweight affects your breathing and
makes it hard to get comfortable,” says Plasker,
who recommends exercise to lose that extra heft
and also to sleep better. “Exercise not only helps
you burn calories, but it increases your metabolism
and makes you tired. Working out in the
morning is best, but just doing it is important.”
So if your schedule is such that you have to exercise
at night, that’s fi ne, but Plasker just recommends
fi nishing two hours before bedtime.
Generous Donations
Specially designed mattresses and beds play a significant role in
the comfort, safety and independence of residents at St. Joseph’s
Parkwood Hospital and Mount Hope Centre for Long Term Care.
Pressure-reducing mattresses are essential for those who spend a
lot of time in bed or suffer from the effects of a stroke, Parkinson’s
disease, multiple sclerosis and other health issues. Beds that can
adjust to a variety of heights, meanwhile, allow residents to move
in and out of bed independently and safely.
Thanks to the generosity of donors, St. Joseph’s Health Care
Foundation funds the purchase of new mattresses and beds for
residents. In the last year alone more than $200,000 has been
granted supporting the purchase of 27 new mattresses and 31 beds.
Vim & Vigour · WINTER 2010
Online
You Can Help
Your donation through the Season
of Celebration campaign can help maintain
the comfort, safety and independence
of residents at St. Joseph’s. Visit
www.seasonofcelebration.com
to make your donation online, or use
the form enclosed in this magazine.
MONSTER IN THE CLOSET:
Succumbing to stress
SHINE SOME LIGHT ON IT: Who isn’t stressed
these days? Between unemployment or a hectic
job, fi nancial troubles, diffi cult relationships,
needy kids, aging parents and never-ending
household chores, you’re under a lot of pressure.
Even if you can fi nd the time to sleep, that doesn’t
mean you can clear your head and actually catch
some ZZZs.
“If people don’t manage stress, it can affect their
sleep,” Plasker says. “It keeps them up at night or
wakes them up in the middle of the night.” To help
overcome stress, he suggests trying such bedtime
rituals as listening to relaxing music, focusing on
deep breathing (in for two counts and out for four)
to slow your heart rate and reduce muscle tension,
and keeping a journal by your bed to write down
thoughts that keep you up.
“There’s something about taking those
thoughts out of your head and putting them on
paper that helps rest your mind. You know the
thoughts will be there in the morning,” he says.
MONSTER IN THE CLOSET:
Sleeping in unsavoury
conditions
SHINE SOME LIGHT ON IT: You’re hot. You’re
cold. Your mattress is too fi rm. Or is it too soft?
Your pillow needs fl uffi ng. If trying to fall asleep
makes you feel like Goldilocks, then fi ne-tuning
your sleep hygiene with the following tips from
the Better Sleep Council Canada could make your
sleep environment just right.
First, transform your bedroom into a haven of
comfort that is dark, quiet and between 16 and 18
degrees Celsius. Next, make sure your mattress
meets your needs for both comfort and support.
Also, be sure to avoid alcohol and nicotine close
to bedtime, as they can lead to a bad night’s sleep.
Finally, create a bedtime routine that is relaxing,
such as reading a peaceful book or soaking in a
hot bath.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY PHOTOLIBRARY