When it comes to getting a good night’s sleep, you’ve likely heard that it’s best to keep your gadgets off or out of the way. With that in mind, turning to technology for a restful night’s sleep may seem a little contradictory. However, by tracking your sleep and learning from the data, you may be able to sleep more soundly.
Smart beds are one of the latest ways to do just that.
What Are Smart Beds?
Like smartphones, smart beds differ from model to model. Typically, they’re fitted with sensors that measure things like sleep duration and quality. This information is then available to view on an app and can be used to make adjustments to your routine.
The Upside Of Smart Beds
As well as making for a better night’s sleep, these adjustments may positively impact your health. Peter Polos, Ph.D., a sleep medicine specialist for Sleep Number, says smart beds can be critical for connecting the dots with potential health problems.
Polos says smart beds can measure biometrics like:
– heart rate variability
– breath rate
– movements
– circadian rhythm
These metrics are combined with an algorithm to estimate when your sleep stages take place. This can help you gain an understanding of what’s preventing you from sleeping soundly.
What might that mean for your long and short-term health? Let’s look at some of the pros of smart beds.
Smart Beds Can Identify Sleep Patterns
For most of us, the level of tiredness we feel in the mornings is the only indication we get of how well we’ve slept the night before. A smart bed can help you identify sleep issues you weren’t previously aware of.
Some examples include:
– waking during the night
– experiencing fitful or restless sleep
– insomnia
-sleep apnea
Smart Beds May Help Boost Your Productivity
Few of us function well when we’re tired. Where short-term health is concerned, not sleeping soundly can impact our cognitive abilities. In addition, Polos says the metabolic activity of the brain is at its greatest during the REM stage of sleep.
Smart beds can help you identify how much time you spend in each sleep phase, and some can make suggestions to ensure you’re getting enough sleep in each.
Smart Beds May Help Improve Hormone Balance
How well you sleep affects many aspects of your health, including your hormones. Polos notes that disruption or reduction of this stage directly affects the release of HGH. Another important hormone regulated by sleep is insulin, pointing to a link between diabetes and sleep.
While this data won’t replace a formal study, Polos says it can support diagnosis and clarify the need for additional tests. Certain models offer features like temperature control, position control, and the ability to adjust firmness. Some may even prevent snoring by gently raising their head.
For example, some models automatically change the firmness and temperature of your mattress to better suit your needs.
