Wondering how to use research-backed techniques to combat sleep issues? New research suggests the importance of exercise for improving sleep. 

‍Study Summary

This new research, which included 34,000 adults, found that: 

• Exercise is more effective for treating insomnia than sleeping aids.
• Those in better physical condition were less likely to take prescription sleep medication.
• The beneficial effect of exercise on sleep was stronger for men than women. The men with the highest levels of physical fitness, had a 15% lower risk of needing to rely on sleep drugs to fix their sleep issues.

The Hearty Take

These findings support the notion that fitness is important for all areas of health, finding that improving or maintaining fitness may be an effective alternative to sleeping drugs for combatting sleep problems. Having sleep issues? Working on your physical fitness may help you improve your sleep. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity per week, spread out over at least 3 days per week, along with muscle-strengthening activities 2 or more days per week.

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