Did Lucy and Ricky Ricardo from “I Love Lucy” have it right all along with sleeping in separate beds? As we look back at the reruns of old shows, it might seem like married couples only slept in separate beds. With what we know now about the positive impact of quality sleep, could the secret to a long-lasting relationship have been right in front of us in black and white the entire time?

The importance of sleep has become a major topic in conversations around mental and physical health. It has been reported that 50 to 70 million adults in the United States are affected by some type of sleep disorder ranging from sleep-related breathing disorders to sleep-related movement disorders, in addition to insomnia. A good night’s sleep, approximately seven hours for an average adult, improves brain performance and mental well-being. Poor sleep quality and irregular sleep patterns may increase the risk of disease and disorders and wreak havoc on our moods. Who hasn’t experienced irritability, frustration, or anger after a horrible night’s sleep or a confounding streak of restlessness? Interrupted sleep can cause issues at work, with your family, and marriage. When one or both partners experiences sleeplessness, self-induced or caused by their spouse’s tossing and turning, it can cause a breakdown in their health, including heart disease, diabetes, and obesity, as well as on their mental state with the weaning of tolerance and empathy.