(Newswire.net — March 2, 2016) — It’s long been known that adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep per night to feel refreshed and have enough energy to accomplish their tasks. However, not everyone gets it. In fact, according to a new study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only a third of all Americans are regularly getting adequate sleep. As a result, their health may be at risk.
The Importance of Sleep
The CDC’s study looked at data from the 2014 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to see how much sleep adults are really getting. The survey included 44,306 respondents from all 50 states, including the District of Columbia.
This is based on the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society recommendation that adults ages 18 to 60 need at least seven hours of sleep per night for optimal health. “There seems to be sort of a good cutoff point, where if you get at least seven hours, your body and brain will function at their best,” said Dr. Shalini Paruthi, co-director of the Sleep Medicine and Research Center at St. Luke’s Hospital in St. Louis.
The findings show that one in every three U.S. adults are getting less than seven hours of sleep a night. The study also showed that those who don’t get more than seven hours a night are at higher risk for serious health conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, frequent mental distress, and even death.
“People just aren’t putting sleep on the top of their priority list,” said study author Anne Wheaton, PhD, an epidemiologist at the CDC. “They know they should eat right, get exercise, quit smoking, but sleep just isn’t at the top of their board. And maybe they aren’t aware of the impact sleep can have on your health. It doesn’t just make you sleepy, but it can also affect your health and safety.”
Factorial Causes
Surveys revealed there were many factors that influenced the amount of sleep adults received. It varied by state, for example. The study showed that the percentage of people who received a good night’s rest in Hawaii was 56 percent, while 72 percent said they slept well in South Dakota.
The amount of work performed during the day also had a strong influence. Those with a higher education often slept better, as well as those who were employed full time, ranging from 65-72 percent. Approximately 55 percent of those who were unemployed or unable to work also had a more difficult time sleeping at night.
Approximately one quarter of the U.S. population struggles from sleep apnea or other health conditions that can rob them of good sleep. Sleep apnea is often a symptom of obesity, and with two thirds of the population considered overweight or obese, it’s no surprise that quality sleep can be a problem. “If you’re snoring, chances are that even if you’re getting your seven hours, it’s not a good seven hours,” he said. “You should see your physician and take it seriously.”
Those who are married tend to sleep better than those who are single, separated, or widowed. Busy schedules can also have an impact. “Our society is very go-go-go. There’s a lot of things to get done in one day,” Paruthi said. “Sleep tends to be something that people fail to prioritize.”
Societal Effects
“It’s a public health problem,” according to Wheaton. “The reason we are trying to draw attention to it is that first it affects such a large proportion of the population and second that it’s tied to so many health conditions that are such a big issue.”
This public health issue is affecting the medical sector, creating an increased demand for those in the medical field. It’s good on the economic front because it’s creating jobs, but the health risks are something that should be very concerning for the U.S. society.
“People have to recognize that sleep is just as important as what they’re eating and how much they’re exercising,” shares Dr. Shalini Paruthi. “It’s one of the pillars of good health.”