Is Your Pet Interfering with Your Quality of Sleep?

As many pet owners know, pets have a way of burrowing into our beds as well as our hearts. Owning a pet has been scientifically proven to have multiple benefits, like lower blood pressure and more reasons to go outside and socialize. However, some people wonder whether sleeping with your pet in Weatherford is good or bad for your health. Let’s examine a recent study on the subject from the Mayo Clinic.

Does Sleeping with Your Pet Affect Your Quality of Sleep?

The Mayo Clinic studied 40 dog-owning adults and measured the time they spent asleep each night for a week. Owners answered questions about where they slept and where the dog slept every night. Researchers concluded that those who didn’t share a bed with their pet had slightly higher sleep efficiency than those who did. However, people who allowed their dog to share the bed woke up during the night more times on average.

Ultimately, researchers claimed that sleeping with your pet does not reduce sleep efficiency by very much at all. Although, it’s important to note that the study only looked at people who owned one dog. Sharing a bed with multiple pets may be detrimental, as it can increase the likelihood that your sleep will be disrupted, keeping you from attaining the deep rest you need.

How Important Is It to Track Your Sleep?

Another thing the study emphasized was how crucial it is to track your sleep, and not just when you’re a part of a study. There are plenty of apps out there to help you document the amount of time you spend sleeping, as well as habits that affect your quality of sleep, such as caffeine and alcohol consumption, working out at night, and eating a large meal less than two hours before bed. You could also keep track of these habits in a physical notebook if that’s more your speed.

While these apps are great for measuring your sleep habits, they’re not perfect for diagnosing disorders like sleep apnea. For that, you’ll want to visit your dentist or physician.

All in all, there’s no real harm in sharing the bed with your pet. And it never hurts to keep track of your sleeping habits while you’re doing it.

About the Author

Dr. Deborah Romack is an expert at treating sleep apnea in Weatherford, TX. She is a 1998 graduate of Baylor College of Dentistry. She stays up to date on subjects like snoring treatment and obstructive sleep apnea therapy. Her goal is to improve her patients’ quality of life by helping them achieve better sleep. To learn more about how to increase your quality of sleep, contact Dr. Romack by calling (817) 594-3806.