Camille Moreau / Photo credits: IAN HITCHCOCK / GETTY IMAGES ASIAPAC / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP
Watch out for sport in the evening! A brand new study carried out by researchers in sleep physiology from the University and the Caen University Hospital leans rather against this practice. Doing endurance exercise in the evening, before going to bed, would prevent you from sleeping well.
After a long day of work, sitting in front of the computer, nothing better than jogging to get back into shape. A reflex for many French people, which ultimately does not turn out to be very beneficial. A brand new study carried out by researchers in sleep physiology from the University and the Caen University Hospital leans rather against this practice. Doing endurance exercise in the evening, before going to bed, would prevent you from sleeping well. Europe 1 explains.
A cortisol level to monitor
The researchers had athletes in their twenties run for 30 minutes an hour before bed. These athletes were then equipped with electrodes to measure their brain activity during the night. Result: the body is in a state of hyper excitement. The brain runs faster and the level of cortisol, the stress hormone, increases, explains Joy Perrier, post-doctoral researcher at the University of Caen.
“A higher cortisol prevents you from having restful sleep or it prevents you from falling asleep easily. And then you must not forget that the body is regulated by other factors, notably temperature. When you exercise physical exercise, you increase your temperature and all that can disrupt your falling asleep, your sleep a little,” she explains. Please note, this is not an excuse to sit on the couch. It is better to exercise late in the evening than not at all, says the scientist. So after a late session, a little tip to help you fall asleep more easily: take a lukewarm shower to lower your body temperature.