The effect of cortisol and physical activity on sleep quality: an integrative review

• Autor(a) principal: Silva, Leonardo Pereira da
• Data de Publicação: 2024
• Outros Autores: Lima, Gustavo de Sá Oliveira, Cunha, Tatiana Sousa, Casalli, Karina Rabelo, Nascimento, Marcos Antonio do
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Saúde (Santa Maria)
• Texto Completo: https://periodicos.ufsm.br/revistasaude/article/view/85825
• topic: Sono; Cortisol; Atividade física; Sleep; physical activity

During sleep, numerous physiological responses are triggered in order to re-establish body components that are vital for memory. There has often been an exponential increase in sleep disorders among individuals all over the world, as a result of which there has been an increase in comorbidities such as obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. In addition, studies show that regular physical activity and cortisol production in the human body can influence sleep quality. The aim of this study was to analyze the scientific research currently available on the impact of cortisol and physical activity on sleep quality. This is a qualitative, descriptive study, developed from an integrative literature review, carried out in October 2023, through a bibliographic survey, using the PubMed database, using the descriptors “cortisol”, “sleep” and “physical activity”, combining them with the Boolean operator “AND”, according to the guidelines recommended by PRISMA. A total of 21 studies were found. The inclusion criteria were: articles available free of charge, in full text, clinical trials, in English, published in the last 10 years, and dealing with the subject. After extensive analysis, only 5 studies met all the selection criteria and were included in this study. The results show that there is a relationship between sleep quality, physical activity, and the effect of cortisol. Studies found in the literature reflect on the improvement in sleep quality with physical activity, as well as the reduction in plasma cortisol levels. In addition, the studies observed other techniques (nursing) and tools (diet) that can influence sleep quality. Thus, the studies highlight the importance of sleep and physical activity as essential components of health and well-being, with significant implications for different populations and health conditions, especially hormonal ones.