Even though humans sleep away about one-third of their lives, sleep science is relatively new. But the latest results show that sex trumps sport as a sleep aid.
These are just some of the results presented at the annual convention of the German Sleep Society (DGSM) in Kassel, where 1,500 scientists recently gathered to discuss factors contributing to healthy sleep.
“Earlier, people thought that sleeping disorders were the result of other diseases. Today, we know that it’s the opposite and many diseases get worse or exist because the patient sleeps poorly,” says Geert Mayer, head of the DGSM. “Cardiological and circulatory problems are often precipitated by unsound sleep lasting for a longer period. We’ve also established a significant connection between sleeping disorders and diseases like dementia or Parkinson’s.”
One study found that 69 percent of Parkinson’s patients have had sleeping disorders in the past, which often start in childhood.
“About 40 percent of all small children have sleeping disorders. They usually disappear over time, but it’s not unusual for older children to suffer from daytime sleepiness. About one-third of pre-teens and teens are affected,” said Alfred Wiater, the head of a pediatrics clinic in Cologne.
Wiater recommends reducing a child’s media consumption to promote sleep. He says exhaustion in children is no small matter.
“Most children with sleeping disorders have some kind of mental disturbances, like fears, depression or hyperactivity,” he said.
“There are no hard and fast rules. Not even a rule of thumb,” Mayer said. “We often get old people who want their eight hours of sleep. But their body doesn’t need that much. Others complain that they only feel well rested after nine hours of sleep, which is also completely normal.”
To ensure sleep is recuperative, researchers recommend a healthy diet and plenty of exercise, but it is best to take things easy before bedtime.
“Exercise and other stimuli sends out hormones that keep the body awake internally,” Mayer said.
Though there is one exception to the rule — sex.
“We suspect there are positive benefits because the body gets stimuli, but then relaxes,” Mayer said.
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