A survey found that 1 in 4 couples sleep in different beds. And it’s not always because the spark is gone. Sometimes the poor quality of sleep due to different sleeping habits or schedules can be the cause.
But great minds have discovered that sharing a bed with your girlfriend, despite loud snoring and endless battle for the blanket, can actually make you healthier and happier.
We have summed up the experts’ salient points, which explains why catching Zs with your loved one can be worth it.
Sleeping Next To A Partner Can Help Enhance Deep Sleep, Which Benefits Our Memory And Mood:
One experiment compared the couples’ sleep levels when they napped together and when they were apart.
The research team found that people who slept together with their partners had higher levels of rapid eye movement (REM) compared to when they slept separately.
REM is good for the body because at this stage our brain becomes more active. And this benefit extends to our waking life, helping to organize memory, regulate emotions, creative problem solving, and social interactions.
Cuddling Reduces Stress And Lowers The Risk Of Heart Problems:
The act of hugging releases the hormone oxytocin, which helps reduce stress and promotes emotional responses related to relaxation, confidence, and psychological stability.
Scientists have also studied the effects of hugging on women’s blood pressure. And they found that the respondents who were hugged the most had the lowest blood pressure and heart rate.
High levels of oxytocin also reduce the production of cortisol, the stress hormone. In large amounts, cortisol can trigger inflammation, heart disease, and other autoimmune disorders.
Bedding Down And Having Skin-to-skin Contact With Your Loved One May Help Reduce Anxiety:
Touching is a very powerful tool that can do wonders for the body. In a psychological study, women’s anxiety levels were measured by the way their brains lit up on an MRI scan.
When the subjects randomly held a person by the hand in the experiment, their stress level dropped.
But when they intertwined their fingers with those of their spouses, their anxiety completely subsided, scientific evidence that our Significant Others can affect our health.
Sharing A Bed With Your Partner Could Possibly Save Your Life Or Help You Identify Sleep Disorders:
Sleep apnea (which affects the muscles and tissues in your throat and causes you to stop breathing) is a potentially serious condition if it is not detected or treated early.
Its symptoms include heavy snoring, choking, and wheezing. And having a partner by your side, who is aware of these signs, can be essential in these moments.
An article also reported how a man who always fondled his wife immediately noticed when she was having a seizure. Essentially, partners are very important when it comes to addressing potential medical issues.
There Is A Direct Link Between Sleep And Relationship Quality:
The survey results indicated that a healthy romantic connection can lead to less stress and better sleep. Although a stressful relationship is likely to cause sleep disturbances and disorders.
The experts also found that women who had positive interactions with their partners during the day slept better at night. Meanwhile, it’s the other way around for men: Those who had good-quality sleep were more likely to interact better with their partners the next day.
Co-sleeping Works Best For Happy Couples:
Going to dreamland with your boyfriend by your side may seem ideal, but experts also warn of possible incompatibilities with sleep preferences. For example, a person with insomnia can affect his or her better half’s bedtime pattern.
Differences in preferred temperature, work hours, or habits (like watching TV from bed) can also affect the quality of sleep. Couples with marital problems are unlikely to reap that much benefit either.
At the end of the day, couples better adjust to sleep routines that meet their individual needs.
