A study of ancient tribes has offered a fascinating insight into how humans slept before our lives were infiltrated by technology and all of the distractions that come with it.
The study found that three groups of hunter-gatherers, who are totally removed from technology and live similarly to the pre-industrial era (think pre-18th century) get roughly six hours sleep each night.
Out of the tribespeople studied, none of them went to sleep when the sun set. Instead they'd head to bed roughly three hours after and would wake up before sunrise.
Scientists believe that their findings could disprove the fact we're getting less sleep because of technology.
"The short sleep in these populations challenges the belief that sleep has been greatly reduced in the 'modern world'," says Jerome Siegel from the University of California, Los Angeles.
"This has important implications for the idea that we need to take sleeping pills because sleep has been reduced from its 'natural level' by the widespread use of electricity, TV, the internet, and so on."
Researchers studied the sleeping patterns of three tribes: the Hadza of Tanzania, the San of Namibia and the Tsimane of Bolivia. They monitored the habits of 94 people in total.
The results, which were published in the journal Current Biology, showed that the three tribes all had very similar sleeping patterns despite living in different environments and having varying genetics.
The three groups, on average, slept for between 5.7 and 7.1 hours. In the winter, they would sleep for an hour more.
Interestingly, they would not go to sleep when the sun set. Instead, they were more likely to go to sleep when the temperature fell and would then sleep through the coldest part of the night.
Researchers also discovered that members of the ancient tribes were less likely to suffer from chronic insomnia and believe mimicking aspects of the natural environment could help those in the "modern world" who suffer from the condition.
Despite this interesting piece of research, other statistics show that tech is still very much an issue when it comes to sleep deprivation.
Academics at the University of Hertfordshire say nearly six in ten Brits now get seven hours sleep, or less, a night which puts them at risk of cancer, diabetes, obesity and heart attacks.
They attribute this to the disruptive blue light from device screens.
Richard Wiseman from the University of Hertfordshire said: "The blue light from these devices suppress the production of the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin, and so it's important to avoid them before bedtime."
26 Ways to Sleep Better
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Open Image ModalSharper Memory When you're awake, your brain naturally builds up beta-amyloid (proteins that are a strong biomarker for Alzheimer's disease), but while you sleep, the brain flushes out some of those toxins. According to a recent study, older adults who reported regularly getting adequate rest had fewer beta-amyloid deposits in their brains than those who got less sleep.
Stronger Heart A study of more than 30,000 adults found that those who slept for roughly seven hours were far less likely to develop heart disease than those who averaged only five hours. Skimping on sleep may disrupt your hormones and metabolism, and increase blood pressure and inflammation.
Slimmer Waistline Brain scans in healthy adults reveal that a good night's sleep impacts areas of the brain that regulate your desire for high-calorie foods, according to 2013 research in Nature Communications. When presented with food options, study subjects wanted treats containing an average of 600 fewer calories when they were well rested compared with when they were sleepy.
—Jessica Migala
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Open Image ModalTelling yourself you got a good night's rest may make a difference in how you think and feel: In a study in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, scientists told one group of subjects that they had logged an above-average amount of REM sleep, while a second group was told they didn't get enough. Then everyone was given a test that measured their cognitive function. The above-average sleepers performed better than those told they'd slept poorly. "Simply hearing that you had high-quality sleep may trigger automatic responses, like heightened energy, that your brain has come to associate with being well rested," says study coauthor Kristi Erdal, PhD.
—Jessica Migala
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Open Image ModalBy the time children reach adolescence, they may begin sleeping less—but homework isn't the only culprit. In a recent poll, 16 percent of kids said they woke up to send or read texts and e-mails. Compare your child's sleep habits with the stats:
Age: 6-11Hours of sleep most kids are getting: 9 or more Hours of sleep they need: 10-11
Age: 12-14Hours of sleep most kids are getting: 8 Hours of sleep they need: 9-10
Age: 15-17Hours of sleep most kids are getting: 7 or less Hours of sleep they need: 9-10
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Open Image ModalBefore you hit the sack, cue up a soothing playlist. Research in the International Journal of Nursing Studies found that when insomniacs listened to relaxing music for 45 minutes prior to bedtime, they spent more time in REM sleep.
—Jihan Thompson
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Open Image ModalIn one of the first studies to examine how room temperature impacts people with sleep apnea—a condition that affects an estimated 18 million or more Americans—researchers discovered that when the thermostat was set at 61 degrees instead of 75, subjects slept on average 30 minutes longer and reported feeling significantly more alert the next morning.
—Jihan Thompson
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Open Image ModalExhaustion can be a sign that you're not just sleepy, you may be sick. If nothing helps you feel rested, one of these conditions may be to blame.
Anemia A telltale sign of iron deficiency (the number one nutritional deficiency in the world) is fatigue, caused by a lack of red blood cells. If you're anemic, your doctor may suggest dietary changes, like loading up on iron-rich meats and veggies.
Diabetes When your body is no longer able to effectively convert glucose into energy, you can eventually feel weak and wiped out.
Fibromyalgia More than 75 percent of people who suffer from this disorder, which causes widespread muscle pain, report having trouble sleeping. Why? According to some brain wave studies, the disease may cut off time spent in stages III and IV of sleep, when the most restorative rest occurs.
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