The Health Facts on Sleep-Deprivation
Sleepless In America
The National Sleep Foundation has released the results of its latest Sleep-Deprivation in America poll and as in previous years, the findings show a strong link between sleep quality and overall health or well-being. In addition, the current state of the world economy is having an effect on Americans’ sleep patterns, with nearly a third of poll respondents reporting that personal financial concerns are causing them to lose sleep. Due to this and other reasons, the number of people reporting sleep problems has increased 13% since 2001, as shown in a pervious NSF poll. The National Sleep Foundation is a nonprofit, independent organization dedicated to improving sleep, health and safety. Its members include researchers in sleep medicine and medical professional in a variety of fields. This 2009 Sleep in America poll throws light on a startling division between Americans who report good health and those who do not. According to medical evidence, healthy subjects are twice as likely to work efficiently, exercise or follow good eating habits, compared to those not as healthy. A major difference between the two groups is that those in the first category are much more likely to enjoy sufficient sleep on a regular basis. In spite of this relationship between sleeping habits and wellness, over the past eight years the number of Americans who sleep less than six hours a night jumped from 13% to 20%. “It’s easy to understand why so many people are concerned over the economy and jobs, but sacrificing sleep is the wrong solution,” says Mr. David Cloud, CEO of the National Sleep Foundation. “Sleep is essential for productivity and alertness and is a vital sign for one’s overall health.” This poll shows that approximately 40% of Americans agree that good sleep is as important as diet and exercise in maintaining wellness. Yet the number who are able to receive it regularly continues to erode. Medical authorities emphasize that this is a critical issue. A member of the 2009 Sleep in America task force, Mr. Woodie Kessel, is a former Assistant Surgeon General. Dr. Kessel states that “Getting enough sleep every day is as important to your health as eating healthy and being physically active.” Poor sleep habits can pose a danger to others as well. In the 2009 poll, a majority (54%) of the participants admitted to having driven as automobile while drowsy on at least one occasion within the past year. Even more alarmingly, nearly a third of those said that they have nodded off or fallen asleep while driving. How much sleep is too little? The current figures show that one out of five Americans receives less than six hours a night. When asked how much they need, the poll response averaged about seven and half hours. It is clear that too many are neglecting to allow themselves the rest they require. The results of this deficit are predictable. People sleeping too few hours report being too tired to work efficiently. Nearly 40% of them have driven when drowsy at least twelve times in the past year. Almost 90% report instances of insomnia occurring a few nights a week within the past month alone. Over the long term, the effects of sleep-deprivation may have far-reaching consequences. Says Meir Kryger, M.D., director of Research and Education at Gaylord Sleep Services, “Sleep disorders are often associated with other chronic diseases, like diabetes and hypertension, and they can add complexity and even accelerate each other if untreated.” The National Sleep Foundation encourages all Americans to remain aware of how good sleep is vital to health and to develop sleep practices that support wellness.
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Feeling tired or drowsy is far from the only negative result of inadequate sleep. A person who has not had enough rest can suffer from the effects of sleep-deprivation in many ways.
1. More Mistakes Nearly a third of responders to one survey said that sleep deprivation reduced the quality and accuracy of their work. 2. Loss In Visual Comprehension Neuroscience researchers found that a sleep-deprived brain has more difficulty in processing visual information than a rested one.
3. Judgment Is Adversely Affected Sleep loss has a major impact on decision-making processes, especially those that require emotional and mental ability, based on the results of testing performed at Walter Reed Institute.
4. Impairment Comparable To Intoxication A person who has been awake for more than 18 hours shows functional deficiencies equivalent to one with a blood alcohol concentration of .07, according to a sleep study. In every one of the United States, the legal standard for drunk driving is .08.
5. Increased Risk of Illness In research conducted at Carnegie Mellon University, subjects who slept fewer than seven hours a night were nearly three times as likely to develop a cold or other respiratory symptoms when exposed to others who are sick, compared to a well-rested person.
6. A Cost That Is Quantifiable The effects of poor sleep may seem to be nothing more than a problem that we cope with successfully ~ but in truth it represents a real, measurable loss that affects all of us. Studies estimate that sleep-deprivation costs U.S. businesses nearly $150 billion a year in absenteeism and reduced productivity.
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