Iowa Sleep Blog

Sleep and Exercise

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

The National Sleep Foundation

has just completed a poll entitled Sleep in America that enables us to note a direct correlation between exercise and better sleep.

Individuals that state they moderately exercise, show they had an increased quality of sleep even with sleep periods of the same length.  Individuals who reportedly exercise vigorously, note they were twice as likely to have good night’s sleep compared to those who do not exercise. 

Max Hirshkowitch, the poll taskforce chair, stated "if you are inactive, even adding a 10 minute walk every day could improve your likelihood of a good night’s rest." 

Researchers noted that those who slept well were more apt to exercise prompting the statement, “which came first the chicken or the egg?”  Is an individual more apt to exercise because they had a good night’s sleep?  The key is great overall health.  Often in our busy world our sleep is the first thing to be compromised.  We not only need to be conscious about eating healthy and exercising, we must also become just as conscious about the quality and quantity of our sleep.