Insomnia affects your sleep cycle, mental health, and physical health. People suffering from insomnia struggle to fall asleep and they find it difficult to have proper sleep for 6-9 hours. In a recent study published in the BMJ Journal, researchers have made it clear that regular physical activity over the long term can help people who are suffering from insomnia. In this population based, multicenter cohort study, researchers used data from a European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) conducted across 21 centers in 9 countries. This study involved 4,339 individuals aged between 39 and 67. Â
Researchers classified participants into 4 groups such as the people who were persistently active, consisting of 1082 individuals, the people who were inactive and did not exercise, consisting of 1601 individuals, the people who started exercising midway, consisting of 775 individuals and the people who stopped exercising in the middle of research, consisting of 881. This classification was done based on their physical activities and exercise.Â
The participants provided information about the symptoms of their insomnia such as how often they had difficulty falling asleep, how often they woke up too early or how long they stayed asleep. They were also asked about how long they slept on average.Â
The group of people who were persistently active showed that they had 42% less difficulty in falling asleep as compared to the group of people who were inactive and did not exercise at all. Their chances of having insomnia symptoms were 22% less and the chances of having two or three insomnia symptoms were 37% to 40% less. Â
The results of this research show that participants who maintained physical activities and exercise routines over a long period have a lower risk of suffering insomnia. These individuals can achieve the recommended 6 to 9 hours of sleep each night.Â
The data of this research will be helpful for healthcare professionals to treat people who are suffering from insomnia. Researchers also need to research what types of exercises and physical activities that may help reduce the risk of insomnia.Â
Reference Link:Â Â
Association between physical activity over a 10-year period and current insomnia symptoms, sleep duration and daytime sleepiness: a European population-based study, BMJ Open (2024). Â
