NIGHT SHIFT

When contributing editor Nick Vinson turned 60 this year, his focus shifted to how to live better for longer. So he checked into Lanserhof's state-of-the-art health resort, on the German island of Sylt, to try out its Sleep Well programme, which aims to improve long-term sleep quality through personalised therapy

- KATIE TOWN

Medical

On the first morning, my bloods were tested, with the onsite lab providing the results for a 9am consultation. Here I also had bioelectrical impedance analysis, as well as blood pressure, lactate and metabolic checks (everything was fine). This was quickly followed by an appointment with a psychotherapist, who set me up for a heart rate variability test: two sensors were strapped to me for 24 hours (no shower, swimming or sauna permitted), and I was asked to keep a diary of my minute-by-minute activity. The heart rate test measures your parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems, which are fundamental in helping the body handle stress. The sympathetic system controls your flight or fight response, while the parasympathetic manages your rest and recovery state, relaxing the body after stress or threat and also helping digestion. Turns out I have a good low heart rate and a biological age of 32, but the test gave me 3/10 for processing stress and 3.34/10 for my sleep. Apparently, my pulse was not going down flat enough. The cure? Activating my parasympathetic nervous system with some slow, deep belly-breathing exercises to activate the vagus nerve (the parasympathetic system’s main nerve). I was also prescribed a Vagusvit infusion, which is designed to promote relaxation and balance the nervous system.

The sleep test