How do you sleep at night? Do you toss and turn? Do you snore? During sleep, our bodies perform a broad range of important repair and maintenance processes, making restorative sleep a necessity for overall health and wellbeing. Sleep not only helps to improve brain, mood, and mental function, but heart health and blood sugar regulation. It also helps strengthen the immune system, which is important as you age.1 Yet over 50 million Americans have sleep disorders, and 1 in 3 adults in the United States report not getting enough rest or sleep every day, which can affect health and longevity.2
Are sleep trackers the answer?
Awareness of sleep patterns is the first step toward improving sleep. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), more than a third of Americans have used a device to monitor their sleep.3 That’s because sleep trackers provide an easy and relatively inexpensive way to learn about your overnight habits. They can also play an important role in keeping you accountable by encouraging consistent bedtime and rise times, and other healthy behaviors like regular exercise.
Sleep trackers are available as “wearables” such as rings and wristbands, and “non-wearables” that are typically kept under a mattress or pillow. These devices are generally paired with apps that provide data and insight into sleep quality, duration, and stages entered throughout the night. In one study, 77% of those who regularly use sleep trackers said the device was helpful and 68% said that using it led them to change their behavior.4
A good friend recently started tracking how often they snore at night, using an app on their phone. They have been able to try different remedies and track effectiveness without subjecting their partner to guinea pig status during the data collection phase because they have all of the data in the app.
Whether you choose to track your sleep or not, the AASM provides the following tips for fostering healthy sleep habits:
- Put your phone away and shut down electronic devices at least 30 minutes before bedtime.
- Keep bedroom lights dim and maintain a comfortably cool room temperature.
- Try reading, taking a bath, or meditating to unwind before going to bed.
Hope you sleep well!
1)Summer, Jay, and Singh, Abhinav, MD, “8 Health Benefits of Sleep.” Sleepfoundation.org, 29 FEB 2024, https://www.sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/benefits-of-sleep.
2)“What Are Sleep Deprivation and Deficiency?” Nhlbi.nih.gov, 24 MAR 2022, https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep-deprivation.
3)“One in three Americans have used electronic sleep trackers, leading to changed behavior for many.” AASM.org, 15 NOV 2023, https://aasm.org/one-in-three-americans-have-used-electronic-sleep-trackers-leading-to-changed-behavior-for-many/.
4)Fischer, Kristen, “What Sleep Trackers Can (and Can’t) Tell You About Your Sleeping Habits.” Health.com, 11 MAR 2024, https://www.health.com/do-sleep-trackers-help-you-sleep-8575298
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