It may not seem like much is going on at night when we sleep, but the body undergoes a complete overhaul. Sleep helps the body strengthen its immune system, lower the risk of diabetes and heart diseases, reduce stress, help to maintain a healthy weight, and also improve memory. The average adult is advised to sleep anywhere between seven and nine hours every night in order to reap the above benefits. Luckily, one can improve their poor sleeping habits through exercise. So how does one influence the other?
What Does Exercise Do?
Exercise increases the amount of deep sleep which aids in the rejuvenation of all the body systems. It also helps to balance moods and relax the mind which makes an easy transition into sleep. Furthermore, exercise has been said to work wonders for the sleep cycle by helping people stay asleep for much longer thus feeling well-rested the next day. It is noted that about 60% of people who weight train sleep for seven hours and even more every night.
In addition, exercise aids better sleep patterns by reducing the amount of time one takes to fall asleep, improving sleep quality by reducing the chances of sleep apnea (a disorder where one repeatedly stops breathing and then starts again) due to a healthy weight and reducing the need for sleeping medication. This doesn't mean you have to go to the gym for hours. An expert from the John Hopkins Centre for Sleep states that anyone who exercises for at least 30 minutes in a day can reap the sleep benefits that same night. This is true for both aerobic and weight training exercises.
Don't Exercise Too Close to BedTime
There is a disclaimer though. Exercising too close to bedtime may keep you awake. When we exercise, the body releases chemicals known as endorphins which help the body cope with pain or stress. They are commonly referred to as feel-good chemicals because they help to relieve pain and boost happiness. It can be much harder to fall asleep when you feel like a ball of trapped energy.
Exercise also increases the body's core temperature. This in turn sends a signal to the brain telling it that it is time to wake up and get going. To avoid this, exercise a few hours before it is bedtime. Endorphin levels are reported to decrease one to two hours after the exercise whereas the core temperature goes down between thirty and ninety minutes of the exercise.
Start exercising today and enjoy better sleep patterns. Contact us today for more information on our gyms in Fort Worth, TX.