A decade-long European study involving more than 4,000 adults has found consistent exercise to be a significant factor in reducing symptoms of insomnia and achieving a normal sleep duration of six to nine hours per night.
The study, drawing from two follow-up surveys of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey, scrutinized the relationship between the frequency, duration, and intensity of physical activity and the prevalence of insomnia symptoms and daytime sleepiness. By categorizing participants based on changes in their activity levels across the 10 years, researchers were able to discern the impact of sustained physical activity on sleep health.
One key finding from the study was that “participants who reported being physically active at the start and end of a 10-year follow-up period were less likely to report insomnia symptoms at the follow-up.” Moreover, persistently active individuals were more likely to attain the recommended six to nine hours of sleep.
The analysis showed that persistently active participants tended to have a lower body mass index, were younger, predominantly male, less likely to be smokers, and more likely to be currently employed.
Although daytime sleepiness or symptoms such as difficulty maintaining sleep were not found to be linked to physical activity levels, smoking behavior was found to have independent associations with daytime sleepiness.
“Our results are in line with previous studies that have shown a beneficial effect of physical activity on symptoms of insomnia, but the current study additionally shows the importance of consistency in exercise over time,” lead author and sleep expert at Reykjavik University Dr. Erla Björnsdóttir told CNN.
Relevant articles:
– A 10-year study of more than 4,000 Europeans found those who consistently exercised two to three times a week were significantly less likely to suffer from insomnia than inactive people, and better able to clock up the recommended six to nine hours of sleep each night.
– Exercise could be the cure to your insomnia, News-Medical.Net, Wed, 27 Mar 2024 15:32:00 GMT
– Regular exercise is associated with less insomnia, study shows, CNN, Tue, 26 Mar 2024 22:30:51 GMT
– No lost sleep with regular physical activity, study says, UPI News, Wed, 27 Mar 2024 04:12:34 GMT