Do you find it difficult to get to sleep at night and do you wake up tired in the morning? A new study from the Center for Sleep Disorders at Northwestern University reveals that the best antidote to chronic insomnia is regular aerobic exercise .
To reach this conclusion, Phyllis Zee and her colleagues worked with 23 adults over 55 years of age, sedentary and suffering from insomnia. For 16 weeks, half of them practiced aerobic physical exercise of a certain intensity for 20 to 40 minutes, four times a week. The rest dedicate the same time to recreational activities such as a cooking class or a visit to a museum. The result was that only those who had practiced exercise noticed a considerable improvement in the quality of their sleep, practically leaving their insomnia problems behind, in addition to feeling "more vital" and with less daytime sleepiness.
According to the researchers, insomnia is a very common problem that increases with age. "By improving an adult's sleep we can improve their mental and physical health," explains Zee. " Sleep is a barometer of health ; it should be the fifth vital sign – along with the four" standard "ones: body temperature, pulse, blood pressure and respiratory rate," he adds.
