People with sleep problems should exercise, a study suggests

People with sleep problems should exercise, a study suggests

The vast majority of people have trouble sleeping from time to time. However, 10 to 20 percent of the population struggles more than the rest of us and has serious long-term sleep problems.

Many people who struggle with insomnia turn to some form of sleep aid sooner or later. However, a study of more than 34,000 adults suggests that some of them should exercise instead.

We have observed that people in better physical condition have a lower risk of taking prescription sleeping pills.”

Linda Ernstsen, associate professor at the Department of Public Health and Nursing at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).

The results of the latest study have now been published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

Linked health data to prescriptions

Researchers reviewed participant data in Norway's large Trøndelag health survey (The HUNT study). Since the survey began in 1984, a total of 240,000 people from Trondheim have taken part in the survey. Four rounds of surveys have been carried out so far.

With the health survey, researchers can track how people's health develops over many years. This time they linked the HUNT data with information from the Norwegian recipe database. Participants in the third HUNT study (2006-08) were followed up until January 1, 2018.

“Almost 5,800 of the participants received their first prescription sleeping pill during the study period,” says Ernstsen.

This means that about 17 percent of participants' sleep problems were severe enough to warrant a prescription from their doctor. But the participants who were in the best shape used less of these prescription drugs.

Men benefit the most

“These results suggest that physical fitness can also contribute to better sleep,” says Ernstsen.

Unfortunately, the beneficial effects of exercise are stronger on men than on women. The results show that the fittest men had a 15 percent lower risk of needing medication for sleep disorders.

"The corresponding percentage risk for the fittest women was much lower. But women who struggle with sleep problems can still benefit from getting in shape," says Ernstsen.

The extensive study follows the adult population over a long period of time. The researchers therefore conclude that these findings should influence the sleep advice that doctors give to their patients.

“Our results support the idea that improving or maintaining fitness can be an effective alternative to preventing sleep problems,” says Ernstsen.

Source:

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)

Reference:

Ernstsen, L., et al. (2022) Association between cardiorespiratory fitness and incidental purchase of hypnotics in adults: The HUNT study. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2022.08.013.

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