Economic Changes Trigger Gain in Stress and Loss of Sleep

Whether it’s due to worries over money lost or the lack of any gained, increasing concerns regarding the decreasing economy are costing a third of Americans their sleep. Getting insufficient sleep could lead to paying the price of your health as well as that of your safety.

According to the Sleep In America poll conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, suffering from lack of sleep is linked to health issues and unsafe driving. An association was revealed between inadequate sleep and having unhealthy lifestyles that cause harmful effects on health and safety. The poll pinpoints considerable differences in the sleep patterns, health habits and general quality of life between healthy and unhealthy Americans. Healthy people are twice as likely to work efficiently, exercise, and eat healthy because they are getting enough sleep when compared to those who are sleep deprived and in poor health.

The numbers of the sleepless have increased by 13 percent since 2001 and in the eight years since then, those who sleep less than six hours nightly have grown in number from 13 percent to 20 percent. Sadly, the number of the rested, those sleeping eight hours or more per night, has dropped from 38 percent to 28 percent. Almost 90 percent of Americans report symptoms of insomnia at least a few nights weekly within the past month.

WB&A Market Research conducted the 2009 Sleep In America poll for the National Sleep Foundation. A random sample of 1,000 adults was surveyed by telephone interviews between September 22, 2008 and October 30, 2008. David Cloud, CEO of the National Sleep Foundation said, “It’s easy to understand why so many people are concerned over the economy and jobs, but sacrificing sleep is the wrong solution.” Cloud explained, “Sleep is essential for productivity and alertness and is a vital sign for one’s overall health.”

Woodie Kessel, MD, MPH, Assistant Surgeon General, USPHS (Retired) and a member of the poll taskforce noted, “Sleep is so obvious, that it is often overlooked, even by physicians.” He went on to explain, “Sleep is as fundamental as diet and exercise to human health.” Although nearly 40 percent of Americans reportedly share this opinion, only 32 percent of those who suffer from sleep related issues confer with their healthcare providers about them.

People suffering from lack of sleep are also becoming an issue for public safety. The poll found that 54 percent of those have driven while drowsy at least once within the past year. In addition, 28 percent of drivers polled admitted to having nodded off or fallen asleep while driving. Two in ten Americans get less than six hours sleep nightly, while 40 percent of these have driven when drowsy at least once a month within the past year.

According to Meir Kryger, MD, Director of Research and Education at Gaylord Sleep Services, “With the economy worsening, we are seeing patients in our clinic who have told us that they would not be returning for treatment because they or a family member have lost their jobs, and they are concerned about costs.” Dr. Kryger also warned, “These patients may wind up far sicker. Sleep disorders are often associated with other chronic diseases, like diabetes and hypertension, and they can add complexity and even accelerate each other if untreated.”

The National Institutes of Health estimates that about 70 million people in the United States suffer from a chronic sleep disorder or intermittent sleep problem. More women suffer from lack of sleep than men and the frequency of sleep issues increase with age.

In order to get a better night's sleep, there are several guidelines you can follow. Establish regular sleep times and a standard relaxing bedtime routine. Make sure your bedroom is dark, cool and quiet and equipped with a comfortable sleep surface and pillows. Only use your bedroom for sleep and sex to reinforce the association between bed and sleep. It is best to remove work materials, computers and televisions from your sleep environment.

Complete your regular exercise at least three hours prior to bedtime and avoid consumption of foods and drinks with high caffeine content for at least eight hours prior to bedtime. In addition, avoid alcohol within a few hours of bedtime.

For those who feel they need a little more assistance to get a good night’s rest, there are natural sleep aids available such as valerian root taken from the valerian plant, or Melatonin, a hormone found in the brain that regulates your body clock and helps induce sleep as well as relieves heartburn. The Montmorency cherry has also been found to contain a significant amount of melatonin and may help promote a good night’s rest. In addition, St. John’s Wort is commonly used as an aid for sleep conditions as well as to battle depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder.