news
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