The State of Sleep Health in the U.S.

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Good sleep promotes good health. Sleep represents a third of everyone’s life and it has a huge impact on how we function, live and perform during the remaining two-thirds of our lives. Sleep is as vital as the food we eat and the air we breathe, especially for those with compromised immune systems or chronic diseases.

But unfortunately, we live in a sleep-deprived world. A hundred years ago, we used to sleep 8-9 hours per night, but now most sleep on average 6-7 hours per night, only. Sleep problems, whether related to work schedules and a 24/7 lifestyle, or in the form of medical disorders, are pervasive.

In the U.S. alone, 11% report insufficient sleep every night, and 70% of adults report that they obtain insufficient sleep at least one night a month. And according to another recent report on sleep conducted by the National Institute of Medicine, 50 to 70 million Americans of all socioeconomic classes and ages suffer from sleep problems or are regularly deprived of sleep.

People are chronically sleep deprived as a result of a lack of education about the impact of sleep loss and also due to demanding lifestyles. Sleepiness affects reaction times, alertness, learning abilities, vigilance, hand-eye coordination, mood, and the accuracy of short-term memory. And sleepiness has been identified as the cause of a growing number of automobile crashes, on-the-job accidents, and transportation tragedies.

To understand sleep, one must first understand the importance of sleep to overall health. Recent studies suggest that improving the quality and quantity has a more significant effect on overall health than either exercise and/or diet! But unfortunately, people rarely associate sleep with their overall well being and health.

Sleep is when your body heals and repairs. Extreme sleep deprivation may lead to psychosis, as demonstrated in military recruits.

Sleep deprivation may be a contributing factor to more severe health conditions. And that's not to mention more than 100,000 car accidents a year in America - particularly among teenagers.

Moderate and long-term sleep deprivation may lead to increased weight gain, insulin levels, attention deficit disorder (ADD), depression, and problems with memory and learning.

The odds of being sleep deprived (less than 6 hours a night for adults) has increased significantly over the past 30 years as the lines between work and home have become blurred and digital technology has firmly become part of our lifestyles.

National data shows that poor sleep health is a common problem with 25 percent of U.S. adults reporting insufficient sleep or rest at least 15 out of every 30 days.

The National Institutes of Health predicts that America’s sleep debt is on the rise and that by the middle of the 21st century more than 100 million Americans will have difficulty falling asleep.

Sleep is not a luxury or nuisance, it's rather part of regular repair and maintenance of your body. Getting enough sleep can mean the difference between a sick, foggy, tired, unfocused life and one where you feel fully tuned into the world around you, and vibrantly healthy all day.

More than 50 million Americans already suffer from more than 80 different sleep disorders and another 20 to 30 million suffer intermittent sleep problems every year. At least 25 million Americans (roughly 1 in 5 adults) suffer from sleep apnea, a serious breathing and sleep condition linked to cognitive impairment, heart disease, hypertension, and stroke. Chronic insomnia affects at least 10 percent of Americans. Restless legs syndrome, a neurological disorder, affects about 5 percent of the population over age 65.

Sleep disorders affect members of every socioeconomic class, age group, and race. Despite the high prevalence of sleep disorders, the overwhelming majority of sufferers remain untreated and undiagnosed, creating unnecessary safety and public health problems, and increased health care expenses.

Recent national surveys reveal that more than 60 percent of adults have never been asked about the quality of their sleep by a physician, and fewer than 20 percent have ever initiated such a discussion. The critical system maintenance your body performs while sleeping includes
1) growth hormones are released (for both healing and development),
2) memories are cataloged for later use,
3) motor skills are fine tuned, and
4) blood flow is directed to areas needing healing.

Many people are not aware that a good night' sleep is linked to a comfortable mattress.

Your back will thank you!

The quality of your mattress can have a huge impact on your sleep, and poorer quality mattresses also expose you to dust-mites, chemicals, toxic glues, fire retardants, and allergens that can have adverse side effects on health and inhibit your sleep.

A third of Americans report falling asleep while driving 1 to 2 times a month and 24% drive drowsy during the workday. Drowsy driving may be a factor in 1 out 5 of all serious motor vehicle crash injuries.

A recent study of 100 drivers and nearly 2 million miles of driving identified sleepiness as a factor in 22% of crashes, and 16% of near-crashes.

Drowsiness contributes to an estimated 600,000 automobile collisions annually, and as many as 12,000 fatalities a year, as per the American Automobile Association.

The impact on American economy and overall quality of life is huge as untreated sleep disorders and sleep deprivation are estimated to cost more than $100 billion annually in medical expenses, sick leave, lost productivity, environmental damage, and property.

The average adult requires 7.5 to 8 hours of sleep per night. You may have heard someone telling you that they only need 5 to 6 hours and that they've learned to live on that level of sleep. The truth is that at only 5 to 6 hours per night, this person's performance in life and on the job, are greatly suffering.

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A comfortable mattress is critical to both prevention and care of a bad back.

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