OFTEN, medical advice can seem perplexing to the average patient or consumer, but in effect is right on the money in terms of being the correct course of action needed.
Take the global sleep deprivation epidemic - rising stress levels associated with work, bills and the general cost of living is all contributing to a lack of sleep in many people.
But a new study from the University of Otago in New Zealand has found that taking three minutes every half-hour to do some exercise will help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer that evening.
Researchers recruited 28 people for a small lab study which first required them to simply sit for four hours from 5pm - as many of us do in the evening - with a second session seeing participants complete a three-minute equipment-free resistance exercise program.
Comparing the two programs, the study found participants slept an average of 27 minutes longer after doing the exercise program compared to sitting.
Another more humorous study into our lack of sleep has found four in 10 Aussies have used prescription medicine to help them get to sleep.
Two in 10 respondents resorted to counting sheep to fall asleep, while strangely, 4% nodded off on a stranger's shoulder, 5% have drifted off during sex, 7% have opted for a nap while in a nightclub or pub, and 8% said they even fell asleep on the toilet.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 17 Jul 24
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