Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1077009
Stretchandsleep W orkingoutclosetobedtimemaynotbeasdetrimentaltosleepas previously thought. In fact, some sleep experts are now saying that workout sessions — including those that occur late in the day — can be mutually beneficial for improving sleep duration and quality. In the past, researchers believed that exercise in the evening could increase heart rate, raise core body temperature and send stimulating hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, through the body, which could adversely affect sleep. However, recent findings say it's not all that troublesome. A study in the Journal of Sleep Research found that people who exercised vigorously for 35 minutes before bed slept as well as they did on nights when they did not exercise. The National Sleep Foundation's 2013 Sleep in America poll also showed that people who exercised reported they snoozed better than those who didn't work out, and exercising closer to bedtime did not affect sleep quality. Dr. Stuart Quan, a professor of sleep medicine at Harvard Medical School, says the best workout time generally varies from person to person. It's also notable to point out that adrenaline and cortisol only take an hour to regulate and return to normal levels after vigorous activity. So slipping under the sheets an hour or two after a workout may be the best advice for nocturnal fitness fans. n Didyouknow? Exercising before bed Getting You Back to Better www.kentfieldrehab.com415.485.3541 OutpatientCenter • Advanced Wound & Burn Center • Hand Center • Physical, Occupational & Speech Therapy Services •LymphedemaTherapy Honoringpatientwishes • Empowering families Covered by Medicare/private insurance ServingthecountiesofMarin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Sonoma, and the cities of American Canyon, Napa and Vallejo (415) 927.2273 • www.hospicebythebay.org Patient and Family Centered Care MARINJCC.ORG/JOIN GROUPFITNESS SWIM LESSONS PILATES & YOGA CARDIO PERSONAL TRAINING LAP SWIM A Marketing Supplement of the Marin Independent Journal | marinij.com Healthy Living February 3, 2019 15