It is no surprise that many people suffer from insomnia. There is nothing more frustrating than being unable to sleep when feeling beyond exhausted. You have tried just about everything, but you still cannot sleep. What is the problem?
According to Michael Grandner, PhD, instructor in Psychiatry and member of the Center for Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, physical activities like walking, aerobics/calisthenics, biking, gardening, golfing, running, weight-lifting, and yoga/Pilates are correlated with better sleep habits, compared to no activity. Interesting enough, other physical activity, such as housework and childcare is associated to poor sleep habits. Additionally, the study showed that those who just walk for exercise tended to have better sleep habits, which increased with certain physical activities.
“These results are consistent with the growing scientific literature on the role of sleep in human performance,” said Grandner. “Lab studies show that lack of sleep is associated with poor physical and mental performance, and this study shows us that this is consistent with real-world data as well. Since these results are correlational, more studies are needed to help us understand whether certain kinds of physical activity can actually improve or worsen sleep, and how sleep habits help or hurt a person’s ability to engage in specific types of activity.”
This study ended with the conclusion that stress and anxiety in general are the biggest factors in sleep problems. At Balanced Integration, Dr. Samm Pryce sees patients who have stress and anxiety conditions. Diagnosis is the first step in adapting a healthier lifestyle for a better life!
Resources
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/06/150604104150.htm
