Latest news with #AmericanAcademyOfSleepMedicine
The Independent
5 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
Study finds link between teenage sleep habits and adult heart health
A study by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found that teenagers with better sleep habits at age 15 showed improved heart health seven years later. Healthy sleep habits include falling asleep and waking up earlier, spending less time awake in bed, and having less variability in total sleep time and sleep onset. The study, backed by the National Institutes of Health, analysed data from 307 adults, mainly girls, using wrist devices to measure sleep variables at age 15 and assessing cardiovascular health at age 22. Cardiovascular health was evaluated based on diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure, BMI, and measurements of blood fats, blood sugar, and blood pressure, scored using the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8. Dr. Gina Marie Mathew, the lead data analyst, emphasised the need for a comprehensive approach to sleep health, highlighting the importance of earlier sleep timing, higher sleep maintenance efficiency, and lower sleep variability for long-term heart health.
The Independent
13 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
How having a sleepy teen could save your kid from a future heart attack
For parents with a sleepy teenager, less variable sleep patterns could be a sign of a healthier future for their child. Teens who had better sleep habits at age 15 were found to have improved heart health seven years later, researchers at the American Academy of Sleep Medicine said on Monday. The healthy sleep habits include falling asleep and waking up earlier, spending a lower percentage of time in bed awake, and having lower variability in total sleep time and sleep onset. Average total sleep time did not predict future cardiovascular health. In teens, cardiac incidents are rare, but they can occur. Approximately 2,000 young and seemingly healthy people under the age of 25 die each year of sudden cardiac arrest, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Heart attacks in people under 40 have been increasing over the past decade, the Cleveland Clinic notes. 'Given the importance of sleep health for physical health and well-being in the short-term, we were not surprised to see a lasting association between adolescent sleep timing, sleep maintenance efficiency, and sleep variability with cardiovascular health in young adulthood,' Dr. Gina Marie Mathew, a senior post-doctoral associate in public health at Stony Brook Renaissance School of Medicine, explained in a statement. 'It was unexpected, however, that with and without adjustment for potentially confounding factors, total sleep time during adolescence was not a significant predictor of cardiovascular health during young adulthood,' she added. 'This single null finding, of course, does not indicate that total sleep time is unimportant. Rather, when paired with other studies, these findings underscore the complexity of sleep health and the need to consider multiple sleep dimensions as potential targets for promoting and maintaining cardiovascular health.' Mathew was the lead data analyst and author of the National Institutes of Health-backed research that was presented on Sunday at the SLEEP 2025 annual meeting. To reach these conclusions, the researchers analyzed data from Princeton and Columbia University's Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study: the longest-running and only contemporary U.S. birth cohort study of young adults based on a national sample. Their data included 307 adults, the majority of whom were girls. At age 15, participants wore a device on their wrist for a week to measure sleep variables. At age 22, their cardiovascular health was assessed using their diet, physical activity, exposure to nicotine, body mass index, and measurements of fats in the blood, blood sugar, and blood pressure. They were scored based on these factors using the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8. Teens between the ages of 13 and 18 years old should sleep eight to 10 hours regularly to promote optimal health, the academy said. Getting the recommended number of hours is associated with improved attention, behavior, memory, mental and physical health, and other positive outcomes. However, Mathew pointed out that the results highlight the need for a more comprehensive approach to address the relationship between adolescent sleep health and cardiovascular health. 'Future research and recommendations should emphasize the importance of multiple dimensions of sleep health, including earlier sleep timing, higher sleep maintenance efficiency, and lower sleep variability as protective factors for long-term heart health,' she said.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Why exercise helps you sleep and why sleep is good for your fitness routine
Nearly 40 per cent of adults reported getting less sleep than the required amount between 2013 and 2022, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Pexels/Victor Freitas) The health benefits of a good night's sleep have long been touted by researchers and medical professionals. While you're catching z's, your body is hard at work maintaining your physical and mental health. It does so by repairing and boosting your cardiovascular and immune systems, plus regulating your metabolism. Your brain also consolidates memories and processes information from the day. Yet while experts recommend getting at least seven hours of sleep per night, nearly 40 per cent of adults reported getting less than this required amount between 2013 and 2022, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That's alarming, since sleep deficiency can lead to injuries, physical and mental health problems, less productivity, and an even greater chance of dying, according to the National Institutes of Health. But if you're part of that 40 per cent, there's hope. A raft of evidence shows regular exercise helps you sleep better, and quality sleep makes it easier and more enjoyable to work out. 'The majority of people report that when they exercise, they sleep better,' said Dr. Eric Olson, president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and a professor at the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine in Rochester, Minn. 'That can mean they fall asleep more easily, enjoy deeper sleep or sleep in bed more efficiently, which means actually sleeping rather than lying awake.' Exercising enhances sleep for a variety of reasons, according to a 2023 systematic review published in the Cureus Journal of Medical Science. Physical activity increases melatonin production, a hormone that regulates your sleep-wake cycles. It reduces stress, which often keeps people tossing and turning at night, plus boosts your mood. Finally, it helps regulate your body temperature, which is key to sleeping well. The review concluded that regular exercise not only improves your sleep quality, but it may even help manage various sleep disorders, such as insomnia. Exercise can definitely help combat insomnia, Olson said, along with sleep apnea. People with sleep apnea experience repeated shallow breathing during sleep, and may even stop breathing at times (If you think you might have sleep apnea, head to your medical provider right away. It can be dangerous). 'Apnea is often predicated on one's weight,' Olson explained. 'So if exercising helps with weight management, it may also reduce sleep apnea and snoring. Exercising may also help combat restless legs syndrome, another sleep disorder, where you have a compelling urge to move your legs — although some find exercise exacerbates it.' Cooling down before bed is key One key to using exercise to help improve the quality of your sleep is making sure your body temperature has cooled down before heading to bed. This is because a drop in core body temperature signals to your brain that it's time to sleep. Exercising in the morning or afternoon is ideal, then, as your body has the bulk of the day to cool down. But if evening workouts are a better fit for your schedule, it's fine to exercise then. You just need to give yourself 60 to 90 minutes post-workout for your body temperature to lower before going to bed, said Dr. Sara E. Benjamin, medical director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Sleep and Wellness in Columbia, Md. If you don't have that much time to spare for an evening cooldown, skip that vigorous run and try a gentle workout instead, such as tai chi or yoga. 'Yoga before bed can be relaxing, and sometimes it's good to move around before bed so you're not as stiff and are more comfortable sleeping,' Benjamin said. When your sleep improves, your workouts should, too Once your sleep improves thanks to regular physical activity, you may notice your workouts feel easier and are more enjoyable. 'When you don't get enough quality sleep or a sufficient duration of sleep, your stamina and strength will be reduced, which can impair your workouts,' Olson said. 'Also, when you're overly tired because the quality and duration of your sleep aren't adequate, it will be harder to get motivated to work out.' To further the symbiotic relationship between exercise and sleep, consider exercising outdoors rather than at the gym. 'Being outside and having natural light exposure is helpful,' Benjamin said. That's because exposure to natural light is imperative to the operation of your body's circadian rhythm, or internal clock. Your circadian rhythm is a 24-hour cycle that regulates a variety of physiological processes in your body. It's primarily influenced by light and darkness, which cue your body that it's time to wake up or prepare for bed. Yet the link between good sleep and exercising at times is a personal one. Some people will be able to fall asleep even if they exercise right before bed or ingest caffeine, for example. And younger people may find exercise more beneficial to quality sleep than older adults, who tend to have sleep issues. Still, some form of exercise should help most people improve their sleep. And a good night's sleep should make your workouts — and pretty much everything else in your life — more enjoyable. Melanie Radzicki McManus is a freelance writer for CNN who specializes in hiking, travel and fitness.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Naps associated with increased risk of death, report says
June 5 (UPI) -- An afternoon snooze might seem appealing to middle-aged folks and seniors, but these naps could carry a high cost. People with certain types of napping patterns have a greater risk of an early death, researchers are slated to report at an upcoming meeting of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. "People who slept longer during the day, had irregular daytime sleep patterns, or slept more around midday and early afternoon were at greater risk, even after accounting for health and lifestyle factors," lead researcher Chenlu Gao, a postdoctoral research fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, said in a news release. The findings call into question the whole concept of the "power nap." For the study, researchers analyzed data on more than 86,500 people participating in the UK Biobank long-term health research project. These folks had their sleep habits monitored for a week using wrist devices, and researchers compared those habits to death records. Their average age was 63 at the time their napping was tracked. Nearly 5,200 people died during a follow-up of 11 years, researchers said. Results showed an increased risk of premature death for: • People who tended to take longer daytime naps • Folks whose napping patterns fluctuated frequently • People who napped between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. This last observation contradicts academy guidelines, which encourages adults to limit themselves to "power naps" of no more than 20 to 30 minutes in the early afternoon, researchers noted. Naps that last longer than a half-hour can cause grogginess that undercuts the potential helpfulness of a siesta, researchers said. "Interestingly, the data that shows risks associated with napping around midday and early afternoon contradicts what we currently know about napping, so further research on that link could be warranted," Gao said. Gao is to present these findings Wednesday during the AASM's annual meeting in Seattle. Findings presented at medical meetings should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal. More information The Mayo Clinic has more on napping for healthy adults. Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
CNN
5 days ago
- Health
- CNN
Why exercise helps you sleep and why sleep is good for your fitness routine
Winding down WellnessFacebookTweetLink Follow EDITOR'S NOTE: Before beginning any new exercise program, consult your doctor. Stop immediately if you experience pain. The health benefits of a good night's sleep have long been touted by researchers and medical professionals. While you're catching z's, your body is hard at work maintaining your physical and mental health. It does so by repairing and boosting your cardiovascular and immune systems, plus regulating your metabolism. Your brain also consolidates memories and processes information from the day. Yet while experts recommend getting at least seven hours of sleep per night, nearly 40% of adults reported getting less than this required amount between 2013 and 2022, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That's alarming, since sleep deficiency can lead to injuries, physical and mental health problems, less productivity, and an even greater chance of dying, according to the National Institutes of Health. But if you're part of that 40%, there's hope. A raft of evidence shows regular exercise helps you sleep better, and quality sleep makes it easier and more enjoyable to work out. 'The majority of people report that when they exercise, they sleep better,' said Dr. Eric Olson, president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and a professor at the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota. 'That can mean they fall asleep more easily, enjoy deeper sleep or sleep in bed more efficiently, which means actually sleeping rather than lying awake.' Exercising enhances sleep for a variety of reasons, according to a 2023 systematic review published in the Cureus Journal of Medical Science. Physical activity increases melatonin production, a hormone that regulates your sleep-wake cycles. It reduces stress, which often keeps people tossing and turning at night, plus boosts your mood. Finally, it helps regulate your body temperature, which is key to sleeping well. The review concluded that regular exercise not only improves your sleep quality, but it may even help manage various sleep disorders, such as insomnia. Exercise can definitely help combat insomnia, Olson said, along with sleep apnea. People with sleep apnea experience repeated shallow breathing during sleep, and may even stop breathing at times. (If you think you might have sleep apnea, head to your medical provider right away. It can be dangerous.) 'Apnea is often predicated on one's weight,' Olson explained. 'So if exercising helps with weight management, it may also reduce sleep apnea and snoring. Exercising may also help combat restless legs syndrome, another sleep disorder, where you have a compelling urge to move your legs — although some find exercise exacerbates it.' One key to using exercise to help improve the quality of your sleep is making sure your body temperature has cooled down before heading to bed. This is because a drop in core body temperature signals to your brain that it's time to sleep. Exercising in the morning or afternoon is ideal, then, as your body has the bulk of the day to cool down. But if evening workouts are a better fit for your schedule, it's fine to exercise then. You just need to give yourself 60 to 90 minutes post-workout for your body temperature to lower before going to bed, said Dr. Sara E. Benjamin, medical director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Sleep and Wellness in Columbia, Maryland. If you don't have that much time to spare for an evening cooldown, skip that vigorous run and try a gentle workout instead, such as tai chi or yoga. 'Yoga before bed can be relaxing, and sometimes it's good to move around before bed so you're not as stiff and are more comfortable sleeping,' Benjamin said. Once your sleep improves thanks to regular physical activity, you may notice your workouts feel easier and are more enjoyable. 'When you don't get enough quality sleep or a sufficient duration of sleep, your stamina and strength will be reduced, which can impair your workouts,' Olson said. 'Also, when you're overly tired because the quality and duration of your sleep aren't adequate, it will be harder to get motivated to work out.' To further the symbiotic relationship between exercise and sleep, consider exercising outdoors rather than at the gym. 'Being outside and having natural light exposure is helpful,' Benjamin said. That's because exposure to natural light is imperative to the operation of your body's circadian rhythm, or internal clock. Your circadian rhythm is a 24-hour cycle that regulates a variety of physiological processes in your body. It's primarily influenced by light and darkness, which cue your body that it's time to wake up or prepare for bed. Yet the link between good sleep and exercising at times is a personal one. Some people will be able to fall asleep even if they exercise right before bed or ingest caffeine, for example. And younger people may find exercise more beneficial to quality sleep than older adults, who tend to have sleep issues. Still, some form of exercise should help most people improve their sleep. And a good night's sleep should make your workouts — and pretty much everything else in your life — more enjoyable. Melanie Radzicki McManus is a freelance writer who specializes in hiking, travel and fitness. Sign up for CNN's Sleep, But Better newsletter series. Our seven-part guide has helpful hints to achieve better sleep.
