Add this healthy sleep source to your RSA’s arsenal | Sheila Long O’Mara

It’s a great time to be in the business of selling sleep as academia, traditional media and consumers continue to home in on the importance of sleep to better health. And sleep remains a hot topic of conversation in several places.

Did you happen to hear the?latest sleep news?that came out of Harvard University and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center late last month? If not, keep reading for more details. If you did, did you think to share the information with your team members that are front-and-center with consumers hoping to connect with a new mattress to help deliver better sleep?

Again, keep reading for the latest sleep facts that can help retail sales associates connect with consumers on the prowl for better sleep?and?a new mattress, sleep accessories and adjustable bed bases.

According to the study, five low-risk sleep habits can add years to your life.

The study found that young people who have more beneficial sleep habits are incrementally less likely to die early. The data also suggests that about 8% of deaths from any cause could be attributed to poor sleep patterns.

The study included data from more than 172,000 people over a five-year period averaging 50 years old and split 54% women and 43% men. The study tracked people who participated in the?National Health Interview Survey, which is fielded each year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and includes questions about sleep and sleep habits.

Researchers linked participants to the?National Death Index?records (through Dec. 31, 2019) and said they examined the association between individual and combined sleep factors to cause of deaths.

Researchers assessed ?ve different factors of quality sleep using a low-risk sleep score they created based on answers collected as part of the survey. The factors were: ideal sleep duration of seven to eight hours a night, difficulty falling asleep no more than two times a week, trouble staying asleep no more than two times a week, not using any sleep medication, and feeling well-rested after waking up at least five days a week.

Each factor was assigned zero or one point for each, for a maximum of five points, which indicated the highest quality sleep.

If people have all of these “ideal” sleep behaviors, researchers say, they are more likely to live longer. People with the highest quality sleep lived longer, and the benefits give men an advantage with 4.7 additional years. Women logged 2.4 more years.

According to researchers, additional research is needed to determine why men with all five low-risk sleep factors had double the increase in life expectancy compared with women who had the same sleep habits.

Dr. Frank Qian, co-author of the study, said it behooves people to develop the five sleep habits and focus on creating smart, healthy sleep hygiene for better overall, long-term health. Qian pointed out that the medical profession needs to be inquiring about patients’ overall sleep health on a regular basis to help direct better habits that can help overall health and wellness.

Incorporating the latest medical studies and guidance around sleep into conversations with consumers is a sure-fire way to start an engaging conversation. While consumers are hungry for a great night’s sleep, they’re also craving smart information from a number of sources. Why not make one of those sources your frontline team?

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