Sleep Better By Running

Do you have a problem sleeping? Are you the type who suffers sleepless nights tossing and turning and wake up tired and mentally fatigued the next day on a regular basis? You could be suffering from insomnia and might not know it. Other known symptoms of insomnia include at most lack of sleep, not being able to get back to sleep at night, tiredness, and drowsiness during the day. It is not surprising since data reveals that around 25% of the adult population suffers from insomnia while it could reach 40% for older people.

It is a known fact that one's sleeping behavior is affected by physical activity and level of fitness. For people who suffer from insomnia, stress and anxiety are just one of the causes for this debilitating sleep problem. It helps to know that more and more research had confirmed that aerobic exercises, and more specifically, running even for at least half an hour to an hour per day can improve one's quality of sleep by an hour per night. So, it might surprise you even further that the next time you visit your sleep professional or medical practitioner, he will recommend running to solve your sleeping problems.

As more and more people are living stressed-up lives, many are suffering from insomnia especially in the older population. While others solve their problem by taking sleep medicines occasionally, there is a better alternative, try running.

Get a Good Night's Rest Thru Running

A study on sleep and exercise in Finland found that 43% of the subjects who increased their exercise for three months have better or improved sleep while only 1% had decreased sleep. On the other hand 30% who reduced their exercise activity over three months reported reduced sleep duration. Still another study under the leadership of John Trinder, PhD in Australia on having as subjects different groups of people like long-distance runners, weight lifters and sedentary people. The study concluded that those who run had better and longer duration of sleep than the other two groups.

A more recent study conducted by Northwestern University in Chicago on previously sedentary individuals who had problems with sleeping revealed that after 16 weeks of aerobic training, the average sleep quality of the participants had improved while those considered previously as poor sleepers became good sleepers.

To induce a good night's sleep and rest, experts recommend that running should be done earlier and not an hour before sleep. Otherwise, your late physical activity and stimulated system may interrupt sleep. Training intensity can also largely affect your sleep behavior and studies reveal that overtraining can indeed hamper one's ability to sleep well. Running should not be overdone and a 30-minute to an hour can be enough to get you off a good start in improving your quality of sleep.

For first-time runners, it is best to check with your medical provider first before you put on those running shoes. Some people might have medical conditions that would make it risky for them to run. To be on the side of caution, consult your health professional beforehand. After getting a go signal, get yourself a good pair of running shoes and lightweight clothing to get you started. You are on your way to getting a good night's sleep soon.