Resting Button's Functionality in Depth
Study Finds Repeated Snooze Button Use Affects Sleep Quality, Particularly Women
A common morning habit - hitting the snooze button on an alarm clock - might be doing more harm than good, according to a study led by sleep researcher Rebecca Robbins from Harvard Medical School. The study, published in the journal "Scientific Reports," finds that using the snooze function disrupts the natural sleep cycle, affecting overall sleep quality, especially in women.
The study analyzed data from over 21,000 users of the "Sleep Cycle" app over approximately three million nights. The data shows that people used the snooze function in almost 56% of nights, with about half of them pressing the button more than 80% of the time. On average, users slept an extra 20 minutes on days they snoozed, adding an extra 11 minutes to their total daily sleep duration.
Notably, users in Sweden tended to use the snooze button an average of 2.7 times on days when they snoozed, while users in Germany, the US, Japan, and Australia snoozed an average of 2.5 times. Women also tended to use the snooze button slightly more often than men, averaging 2.5 times compared to 2.3 times. The study also found that snoozing was more common on weekdays than weekends.
Interestingly, those who slept a maximum of five hours did not usually use the snooze button. Dr. Robbins explained that this group, which has the least sleep time, tries to make the most of it, with no time for extra sleep.
The study also found that hitting the snooze button prematurely re-enters the brain into sleep phases, including REM sleep, and then cuts it off after just a few minutes. This repeated disruption confuses the brain's ability to regulate and complete sleep stages, ultimately degrading overall sleep quality and potentially causing long-term health effects.
Experts recommend uninterrupted sleep to get the best possible sleep. To achieve this, set your alarm for the latest possible time, and then force yourself to get out of bed when the alarm goes off. Lack of sleep can affect mental health, increase the risk of heart disease, and impair cognitive function.
Source: ntv.de, gho/dpa
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Enrichment Data: Repeatedly hitting the snooze button interrupts and fragments sleep cycles, particularly the REM phase, reducing restorative sleep and increasing grogginess. This effect compromises overall sleep quality and is likely more disruptive for women due to their distinct sleep patterns and greater vulnerability to sleep disturbances.
In summary, repeatedly hitting the snooze button can affect sleep quality and overall health, especially in women, who may be more susceptible to the effects of fragmented sleep and interrupted REM sleep. Uninterrupted sleep is essential for maintaining good mental health, reducing the risk of heart disease, and preserving cognitive function.
Repeatedly hitting the snooze button can have detrimental effects on sleep quality, especially in women, due to the interference and fragmentation of sleep cycles, including the REM phase. This disruption compromises restorative sleep and may pose long-term health risks, particularly for mental health, heart disease, and cognitive function.
Ensuring uninterrupted sleep is crucial for preserving good health and mental wellness, as fragmented sleep patterns can lead to impaired cognitive function and increased vulnerability to sleep disturbances.
