Don't Sleep Well at Night? It Might Be Your Genetics

Sleep is essential for our mind and body to function correctly. Studies show that not sleeping enough can lead to an increased risk of diabetes, obesity, heart disease, stroke, and mental health problems1. Despite the fact that we all know sleep is good for us, falling and staying asleep can be difficult. It turns out that it may not be your fault! Scientists have figured out that our genes might play a role in how well we sleep.

Previous studies often used self-reported data for their research. But the University of Exeter had 90,000 participants wear tracking devices, such as the Apple watch, to analyze their activity over the course of seven days2.

The study identified genetic variants influencing sleep traits and provided new insights into the molecular role of sleep. These insights could one day help develop new treatments to improve our sleep and overall health.

We can't get new genes, but we can make lifestyle changes to help us sleep better:

1. It's best to identify the things in your life that may be affecting your sleep. Try wearing a smartwatch or fitness band to test out different nighttime routines. See how long it takes you to fall asleep and how many times you wake up during the night.

2. Are you the type of person who uses their phone in bed? Try putting the phone away and wind down with a breathing exercise or meditation3. Who knows, you might find that it helps you sleep better throughout the night. By tracking your sleep patterns you can start to figure out what works for you.

3. There can be a variety of reasons why you’re not getting a quality night of sleep, but one crucial factor is a lack of melatonin. Melatonin works alongside your body’s internal clock (circadian rhythm) to help you fall asleep. However, melatonin itself won’t knock you out. It binds to receptors in the brain to let your body know that it is night-time so you can relax and fall asleep easier.

NATURELO’s Sleep Formula has melatonin, magnesium, valerian root, chamomile, passion flower, lemon balm, and hops extracts to help you fall asleep naturally, stay asleep through the night, and wake up rested. 

References:
1. Sleep deprivation: Impact on cognitive performance, 2007 Oct; 3(5): 553–567
2. Genetic studies of accelerometer-based sleep measures yield new insights into human sleep behaviour, 05 April 2019
3. Mindfulness meditation helps fight insomnia, improves sleep, FEBRUARY 18, 2015