smart health connected objects: allies for better sleep?

March 06, 2020

smart health connected objects have been part of our daily life for a few years now. They play a role of guides, follow-up and prevention to help us take better care of our health. Today, many startups are tackling sleep disorders, the bane of our modern society! A multitude of smart health connected objects therefore have the mission of helping us sleep better. But is it really useful? We take stock for you.

Finding sleep: a new challenge!

We spend almost a third of our lives sleeping. It has been established that quality sleep is essential to recover and preserve our health, both psychologically and physiologically. However, the frequency of sleep disorders affects an increasingly large part of the population. Difficulty falling asleep, waking up at night, feeling tired from waking up … For many of us, sleeping well has become a real challenge. Some edifying figures:

  • On average, French people sleep less than 7 hours per night (minimum recommended duration for a good recovery.)

  • 1/3 of French people are affected by a sleep disorder.

  • 13.9% of the French population suffers from chronic insomnia.

Stress at work, worries related to personal life, health problems … Faced with a hectic pace of life, some are tempted to snack on their night so that they have time to manage everything. Others, even if they are exhausted, cannot sleep because they are too preoccupied with everyday worries.

smart health connected objects a solution for better sleep?

The consequences of poor sleep for health are not to be taken lightly: reduced productivity and alertness, irritability and mood disorder, overweight and obesity, digestive disorders, increased risk of disease serious: diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease … Fighting against these disorders is therefore a real challenge, for which few solutions exist.

Today, many start-ups are developing tools to help us improve the quality of our sleep. smart health connected watches to optimize our nights, natural light simulator alarm clock, smart health connected mattress that analyzes our movements, heating pillow … A variety of products at affordable prices to help us change our lifestyle.

Zoom on 2 smart health connected objects to sleep better

Moona: the smart pillow

A tool developed by 2 people suffering from sleep disorders, in collaboration with doctors. Moona acts on the temperature of the pillow: it actively regulates body temperature to help people fall asleep faster and get a deeper sleep. A control box circulates water continuously through the over-pillow to keep it at the chosen temperature. A mobile application allows you to choose the temperature that best suits you and to understand your sleep. Result? A deep sleep and a peaceful night.

What do healthcare professionals say?

There is a link between temperature (that of our body and that of our environment) and the quality of sleep. Several studies demonstrate this, in particular that of the National Institute of Sleep and Vigilance, conducted in 2013: "Sleep … and light" in which Dr. Alain Muzet (Doctor of Medicine and Director of Research at CNRS) confirms that "the thermal conditions are likely to modify or disrupt the normal course of sleep. ”Among the respondents, 43% say they are disturbed by the temperature to fall asleep, of which 20% are very embarrassed and 42% find that the temperature is likely to wake. Body temperature averages 37 ° C and fluctuates throughout the day. To be able to fall asleep the temperature of our body must lose between 1 and 1.5 ° C. The Moona pillow plays precisely this role and will drop the body temperature gradually during the night and thus allow a deep sleep and repairer. Upon awakening, Moona will on the contrary, gradually warm up.

Beurer WL 90: the dawn simulator alarm clock

Designed to treat mild sleep disorders, Beurer WL 90 sits on the bedside table and takes care of everything! You can choose from several options for waking up: dawn simulator, sounds of nature or the radio. Program the dawn simulator, which will start between 2 and 60 minutes before you wake up. The light will gradually intensify for an awakening bathed in soft natural light. A “good night” function is also offered: dim light and background music to sleep peacefully. A device with multiple options, designed to promote your well-being, which is very easily managed via your smartphone.

What do healthcare professionals say?

Light is one of the main synchronizers of our biological clock. In the past, we fell asleep and woke up naturally following sunset and sunrise. According to Claude Gronfier Doctor in Neurosciences and Chronobiologist at INSERM: "the systems which allow a progressive and natural lighting before the alarm clock, bring for a great majority of the users (40% to 60% according to studies), a feeling of better quality alarm clock and regulation of the biological clock. In people who have difficulty emerging in the morning, it may be beneficial to use such systems. To choose your dawn simulator correctly, it is important to check that the product has a medical CE certification, like the Beurer WL 90, which has undergone clinical tests which allows it to be recognized as a certified medical product.