In this article, Dr. Williams is one of the experts asked to weigh in on ways Sleep and exercise have impact on overall health.
Article Links: Insomnia: Exercising 2–3 times a week linked to lower risk (medicalnewstoday.com)
1. Not getting enough sleep can increase a person’s risk for several health issues.
2. Previous research shows certain lifestyle changes can improve a person’s sleep quality, including increasing daily activity.
3. Researchers from Reykjavik University in Iceland found that people who persistently exercised at least two or more times a week had a lower insomnia risk and an easier time getting six to nine hours of sleep each night.
Sleeping issues are a common concern around the world. Researchers estimate that about 10% of the global population has an insomnia disorder and another 20% experience occasional insomnia symptoms.
Not getting enough quality sleep each night can heighten a person’s risk for several health conditions including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, depression, anxiety, gastrointestinal issues, and cancer.
The good news is that previous research shows there are ways to improve a person’s sleep quality, including eating a healthy diet, watching caffeine intake, quitting smoking, and increasing daily activity.
High Quality Sleep is Critical to Overall Health
MNT also spoke with Dr. Vernon Williams, a board certified neurologist, sports neurologist, and founding director of the Center for Sports Neurology and Pain Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles, who commented that high quality sleep is critical to our survival.
“Sleep has long been known by the medical, scientific, and neurological community to have a significant impact on health across the lifespan, including its role in optimizing brain function. A lack of consistently adequate sleep doesn’t just make us tired; it has a significantly negative impact on our brain and overall health,” Williams said.
“Exercise is known to improve the speed at which individuals fall asleep and improve sleep quality — although exercise too close to bedtime can impair sleep onset,” he continued.
“Sleep is not simply a ‘brain rest’ state — there are active physiologic processes taking place in the body that require sleep, particularly its relationship to circadian rhythms. These processes affect nearly every cell, organ, and system in the body. Restoration and maintenance require sleep and benefit most from optimized sleep.”
Read the full article here.
