Tech tools for better sleep
BY ROY M. WALLACK >>> We’re losing sleep over … sleep. ¶ Blame it on job stress or the circadian-rhythm-wrecking blue light of cellphones and tablets, but studies show that nearly half of Americans don’t sleep well and that significant percentages of us suffer from chronic insomnia and sleep apnea, and that causes us to turn to prescription sleep aids. This lack of overnight recovery creates stress, ruins productivity and batters your health. ¶ The good news: Technology is creating lots of non-drug solutions to help you nod off, including smart beds, sleep-inducing scent dispensers and smart pajamas:
1. PAJAMA THERAPY Kevin Haley, Under Armour president of innovation, was talking to five-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady when Brady told him about an injury that healed up super fast after he rubbed a bioceramic gel on it. Haley got to thinking: “Why not cover your whole body with bioceramics?” UA’s new Athlete Recovery Sleepwear purportedly cools off the body’s infrared heat emissions to promote longer, sounder sleep. $80 and up. UnderArmour.com
2. BREATHE EASIER Using a respiration sensor and an app, 2Breathe matches your breathing with tonal music that gradually slows down — bringing your breathing with it. This “guided breathing” is said to lower anxiety and put you to sleep quicker. Shuts off 10 minutes after you’ve gone to dreamland. $180. 2Breathe.com
3. A BETTER BED Got cold feet? Sleep Number 360 has footwarming coils on each side of the bed. Individual head sections automatically adjust to stop snoring, pressure sensors in the mattress will change firmness, and when you wake in the morning you get a full report. $4,000. SleepNumber.com/360
4. SLEEP AROMAS AromaCare, right, uses scents such as peppermint, lemon, eucalyptus and sweet orange to promote sleep. $89 and up. Aroma-Care.com Sensorwake Oria, left, uses soothing complementary scents (powdered rose, fresh laundry) to take you into deep, REM sleep. $149. Sensorwake.com/oria
5. MATTRESS DATA Placed under the mattress, the Emfit QS sensor measures heart and breathing rates, the quality of your sleep, and how well you recovered during the night. It’s great for fitness: Full recovery means you’re ready to hit it hard again, and data reveals effectiveness of your workouts. $299. Emfit.com
6. WHOLE-BODY MAGNETIC RESONANCE Sit inside the Magnesphere and whole-body magnetic resonance is purported to improve your body’s ability to respond to stress. The New England Patriots have one. Units start at $3,050. magneceutical.com
7. PAIN-SAPPING ELECTRO-STRAP This electrostimulation band from Quell Relief triggers the brain to produce its own natural pain relief throughout the body and help get you to sleep. $249. quellrelief.com
8. TINY SLEEP TRACKER Goodbye fitness tracker, hello waterproof titanium ring. The Motiv tracks it all: Your activity, heart rate, steps, calories, distance and sleep. Syncs to a smartphone app. $199. MyMotiv.com
9. SMART MUSIC Similar to Sleep Genius, one of the most popular sleep-music apps, ReNu from NuCalm uses relaxing binaural beats and neuro-acoustic sounds, developed by neuropathic physician Dr. Blake Holloway, to calm you down and allow you to drift off to sleep. Bluetooth headphones and an eye mask are included. This doesn’t hit the market until summer, with an estimated retail price of $89. findyourcalm.com
10. SAVVY PILLOW Laced with sensors that record body movements, sleep patterns and ambient noise, the Advansa 1 X21 pillow factors in the quality of the previous night’s sleep and offers personalized sleep coaching through an app. Alarm optimizes your wake-up time, based on sleep cycles. $150. cityzen sciences.com