The Benefits of a Sleep Buddy

There are well known benefits of sleeping and sharing a bed with somebody as opposed to sleeping all alone.  Sharing of a bed is most common among couples. Sleeping with a loved one has been found to be beneficial to the health of an individual as opposed to sleeping alone.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, it is estimated that up to 25% of American couples sleep apart owing to many different reasons. A good number hate that bed sheets are stolen from them in their sleep, other hate sleeping next to a snoring partner, other couples experience hot flashes and many other annoyances. However, it had been sufficiently shown that the benefits of sharing a bed outweigh any other above listed annoyances associated with sharing a bed.

Rachel E. Salas, a neurologist and the assistant medical director for John Hopkins Center for Sleep, supports that people should share a bed. History indicates that people have slept in the same bed as a family unit and it was for purposes of warmth and security. Dr Salas confirms from her studies of the history of sleep that sleeping together was essential for warmth. With somebody simply lying close to you in bed, it is only human to feel safe.

There are numerous scientific studies exploring the advantages of couples sleeping together. For couples who sleep together, a hormone called oxytocin is released during the moments of contact, cuddling, and touching. Elevated levels of oxytocin help the body to relax, causes the reduction of blood pressure, and promotes healing and numerous other benefits. Additionally, oxytocin is called the love hormone because it is related to the feelings of love, security and affection.

Another study has established a link between the daytime interactions of a couple and quality of sleep. It was shown that the better the quality of sleep a couple gets, the more improved their daytime interactions become. According to Dr Salas, having a person whom you trust as a protector or who protects you by your side increases the release of neurotransmitters which are important for a good night’s sleep.

Lastly, quality sleep is essential for quality life for all human beings. It is now believed that people with sleep disorders like sleepwalking, night terrors and sleep apnoea can benefit from having a sleeping partner. In fact, a partner becomes useful since they will help in checking for night-time behaviors and help diagnose a sleep problem. Human beings are social and it is only in recent times that sleeping apart has become a phenomenon.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303843104579171822197679270

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