Persistent physical activity is linked to better sleep patterns
A study linked persistent physical activity to lower insomnia risk and a better sleep duration.
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- Persistently active individuals were 40% less likely to report difficulties falling asleep than those who were persistently inactive, according to a recent study in BMJ Open. Researchers evaluated multiple factors to understand the relationship between physical activity levels and sleep health.
According to the publication, the study looked at 4,339 participants across 21 centers in 9 European countries. Participants were chosen from the third follow-up of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS III). All those included in the study offered insight into physical activity at baseline and provided data on physical activity, insomnia symptoms, sleep duration, and daytime sleepiness at their 10-year follow-up.
Across the board, physical activity levels varied. Approximately 37% of participants were persistently non-active, while 25% were persistently active. Throughout the follow-up, 20% were active but became inactive, and 18% were inactive then became active.
Persistently active participants were 40% less likely to have difficulty initiating sleep based on an evaluation of insomnia symptoms conducted using the Basic Nordic Sleep Questionnaire.
Additionally, more active patients were more likely to have optimal sleep durations. For example, persistently active participants were 29% less likely to have a short sleep duration, defined as 6 hours or less of sleep per night, than those who were persistently inactive. On the other hand, they were also 47% less likely to have a long sleep duration of 9 or more hours per night.
The data from this study underscores the importance of physical activity for quality and optimal sleep duration.
However, the researchers note, “those who are physically active in general are also more likely to engage in a healthier lifestyle, which can likewise have an effect on sleep. Lifestyle factors, such as a healthy diet and being physically active, are probably part of a phenotype that characterizes those individuals who are generally engaged in a healthy lifestyle.”
While more data is needed to confirm this insight, the proven benefits of physical activity in other healthcare aspects support its ability to optimize health and well-being.
