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Wake-up call to get more sleep
‘ Sleepiness epidemic’ leading to fatigue, health problems and accidents, experts say.
Australians remain in a deep slumber on the health benefits of sleep.
Research conducted by the Sleep Health Foundation and the University of Adelaide has found 33 – 45 per cent of adults sleep either poorly or not long enough on most nights, leaving them fatigued, irritable and in danger.
Dr David Hillman, the foundation’ s director, says Australia is in the midst of a“ sleepiness epidemic”.
Alarmingly, 29 per cent of adults said they drove while feeling drowsy at least once a month, and 20 per cent nodded off at the wheel at some time.
Women found it significantly harder to fall asleep and were hardest hit by insomnia, while men were more likely to suffer from obstructive sleep apnoea.
Compared to the 2010 survey, the nation’ s sleep problems were 5 – 10 per cent worse.
Sleep is not a waste of time and a cohesive national strategy is needed to turn around these“ dire” statistics, Hillman said.
“ These worrying results just go to show that sleep is not the national health priority it needs to be,” he said.“ The truth is that people who cut corners with their sleep function below their best. They are not as mentally sharp, as vigilant, as attentive or as patient as they would otherwise be.
“ Accident risk goes up, workplace performance goes down and your mood, your heart and your blood pressure can all be affected.”
KEY FINDINGS OF SLEEP STUDY
• 33 – 45 per cent of respondents were affected by inadequate sleep, of either duration or quality.
• Average reported sleep time was seven hours; 12 per cent slept less than 5.5 hours and 8 per cent more than nine hours.
• 75 per cent of those who slept less than 5.5 hours reported frequent daytime impairment or sleep-related symptoms.
• 24 per cent of men and 17 per cent of women reported frequent, loud snoring.
• 29 per cent of respondents reported making errors at work due to sleepiness or sleep problems within three months of the survey.
• Almost a third of adults drove when drowsy at least every month, and 1 in 5 nodded off while driving.
• 47 per cent of women and 40 per cent of men were on the internet just before bed almost every night.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF SUFFICIENT SLEEP
• Improved cognitive function: Research suggests inadequate sleep affects judgment, alertness, concentration and memory.
• Cardiovascular benefits: Sleep is involved in repairing the heart and blood vessels. Ongoing sleep deficiency is linked to an increased risk of heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and stroke.
• Weight loss / maintenance: Sleep deprivation affects impulse control, leaving the tired unable to quash cravings for comfort food. Studies have found that when people are starved of sleep, late-night snacking increases, and they are more likely to choose high-carb snacks. The food chosen also contains twice as much fat as that chosen by people who sleep the recommended eight hours.
• Lower accident risk: The sleep-deprived are at a higher risk of injury due to accidents. The 2016 Sleep Health Survey showed 5 per cent of those who admitted to falling asleep at the wheel had had a motor vehicle accident.
• General wellbeing: Getting enough sleep improves mood. Chronic sleep deprivation has been linked to problems such as anxiety, depression and a weakened immune system. ■
With AAP
6 agedcareinsite. com. au