A good night’s sleep is crucial for a healthy lifestyle, yet so many Americans struggling to sleep longer than a few hours each night. According to a new study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Morbidity and Morality Weekly Report, one-third of U.S. adults are not getting the recommended amount of sleep each night, subsequently leading to serious sleep disorders and additional health issues.
The recommended amount of sleep, as stated by the Sleep Research Society and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, state that adults between the ages of 18 and 60 years old should get at least seven hours of sleep each night in order to life a healthy life. If adults are consistently getting less than seven hours of rest per night, the chances of developing chronic health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, obesity, and constant mental distress significantly increases.
“Lifestyle changes such as going to bed at the same time each night; rising at the same time each morning; and turning off or removing televisions, computers, mobile devices from the bedroom, can help people get the healthy sleep they need,” said Wayne Giles, M.D., director of the CDC’s Division of Population Health.
In addition to altering lifestyle patterns to combat sleep disorders, continues positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices and physical massages might be able to improve the country’s poor sleep habits.
Although studies have shown that roughly 50% of the patients who were prescribed CPAP machines stopped using them after just one to three weeks, if these patients stick with the treatments, they will have a much higher chance of improving their sleep patterns and combating sleep apnea.
Like CPAP devices, although much less invasive, massage therapy has gain increasingly popular over the last few years with individuals who struggle with sleep disorders. From 2014 to 2015, the spa industry experienced a 5% increase in total revenue (up to $16.3 billion), much of which can be contributed to massage therapy.
According to The Cut, massage therapy is one of the best treatments for people suffering from sleep issues. The soothing massage is designed to lull the recipient into a heady, dreamlike state, which allows the mind to relax and the body to sleep.
In addition to full body massages, even hand massages have been shown to improve a person’s chance at falling asleep at night. Bustle reports that nine adults with chronic pain learned how to perform Shiatsu hand massages on themselves shortly before bed. All nine patients reported better, calmer sleep after each hand massage.
Contact a medical professional if you’re experiencing any major sleeping issues.
