A new study has identified four different types of sleep patterns and explained how each affects a person's long-term health.
According to the study, led by a team from Penn State University, each type of sleep pattern impacts health differently. Researchers classified sleepers into four distinct categories based on various conditions and metrics:
1. Good sleepers: They maintain a healthy sleep routine with optimal consistency in timing and duration, satisfaction, daytime alertness, and efficiency in both sleeping and waking.
2. Sleepers who compensate for short sleep durations: They generally have shorter-than-average sleep durations but make up for it on weekends or non-working days.
3. Insomniacs: They struggle with falling asleep, experience daytime fatigue, and take a long time to sleep.
4. Short sleepers with frequent naps: They sleep for short durations but generally have good sleep patterns with frequent daytime naps.
The study found that more than half of the participants either suffered from insomnia or were short sleepers, indicating suboptimal sleep patterns. Those with persistent insomnia for over 10 years were more likely to develop various chronic health conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and depression.
It is worth noting that there are healthy sleep habits individuals can adopt to improve their sleep, such as avoiding mobile phone use in bed, exercising regularly, and avoiding caffeine in the late afternoon.
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