Is Supplemental Oxygen The Secret To Better Sleep?

In today’s fast-paced world, quality sleep can seem like a dream. From stress and screen time to underlying health conditions, it’s never been more apparent that lifestyle and environmental factors can seriously ruin our rest.

According to a recent YouGov survey, 41% of Brits say they sleep for six hours or less each night - a disturbing figure, given 77% of those interviewed claim they would like to drift off for eight hours or more. The gap between expectation and reality is clear to see. So much so, many are taking action to try and improve their sleep.

The same survey reports that 40% of us make sure we go to bed at the same time every night, while nearly a third of us say we avoid looking at screens before sliding between the sheets. In the quest for better sleep, it seems we’re all turning to familiar solutions - herbal teas, blackout curtains, or digital detoxes. But what if the key to more satisfying shut-eye lies not in a new mattress or meditation app, but in the air we breathe?

Could cleaner oxygen be the secret to deeper, more restorative sleep?

We all know that oxygen is essential for the health of our cells, but its role becomes even more critical when we snooze, fuelling the processes that keep us alive and well. As we doze, our breathing naturally slows, and oxygen intake can decrease. While this is normal, even the slightest dip in O2 can affect how refreshed we feel in the morning.

Supplemental oxygen increases the concentration of pure oxygen in the air we breathe, helping to ensure our bodies and brains receive an optimal supply. This can support more efficient cellular repair, hormone regulation and brain detoxification, all of which occur during our non-waking hours.

Not only that, but inhaling oxygen-rich air can help calm the nervous system, reduce cortisol levels and promote a sense of calm, while alleviating stress and helping us to unwind more quickly. Users also report that a few deep breaths of supplemental oxygen before bed promotes speedier, more restful sleep.

But how?

When the body is well oxygenated, it can enter and maintain deep sleep stages (like slow-wave and REM) more easily. So, if you often wake feeling sluggish, despite a decent eight hours, supplemental oxygen may be the key to feeling a little more lively come morning. Not only are these stages the most restorative, they’re also crucial for physical recovery, memory consolidation, and emotional processing.

Supplemental oxygen has long been used in clinical settings, due to its many health benefits, but with handy, portable oxygen canisters now available to buy, we  can all enjoy a better night’s sleep without the need for medical equipment or prescriptions.

If you’re looking for a simple, cost-effective and natural way to enhance relaxation, drift off to The Land Of Nod, improve sleep quality and wake up brighter, then supplemental oxygen might just be the breath of fresh air your bedtime routine needs.

For further help on improving your sleep hygiene, check out our earlier blog here.