Rest Up to Stay Healthy
Learn the importance of getting enough sleep
You know exercise and diet are important for your health. But ZZZs are also key.
Yet, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that 1 in 3 Americans don’t get enough sleep, putting them at risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression, migraine, obesity and just about every other health condition — even cancer.
Lack of shut-eye also hobbles our ability to concentrate and raises our risk of nodding off at the wheel, the CDC says.
Most adults need at least 7 hours of sleep a night, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. But many say they fall short.
The CDC surveyed 444,306 people in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Nearly 35% said they snooze less than 7 hours a night. “As a nation, we are not getting enough sleep,” said Wayne Giles, director of the CDC’s division of population health.
And it’s putting our health and safety at risk, the CDC says. In an earlier survey, around 38% of respondents said they routinely dozed off during the day — and nearly 5% admitted to falling asleep while driving. Drowsy driving is blamed for an estimated 1,550 deaths and 40,000 (nonfatal) injuries every year in the U.S.
Have trouble snoozing? Check with your doctor to rule out a possible disorder like sleep apnea. (Snoring may be a sign.) It’s estimated as many as 70 million U.S. adults may have sleep or wakefulness conditions.
Tips for extra winks:
- Go to bed/rise the same times each day
- Follow a relaxing bedtime routine
- Create a dark, quiet sleep environment
- Avoid alcohol/caffeine close to bedtime
And turn off your computer, TV and all mobile devices before hitting the sack. Better yet: Ban them from your bedroom!
By Lisa Stein, Contributing Editor
Sources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Drowsy driving: Asleep at the wheel. Updated October 28, 2021. Accessed November 1, 2021.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 1 in 3 adults don’t get enough sleep. Updated April 15, 2020. Accessed November 1, 2021.
Sleep Foundation. Sleep statistics. February 8, 2021. Accessed November 1, 2021.
AASM Sleep Education. Healthy sleep habits. Updated August 2020. Accessed November 1, 2021.
Last updated November 1, 2021.