Due to our stressful times, the number of people with sleeping problems is constantly increasing. Many people sleep less than 8, 6, or even 5 hours, which is rather concerning since lack of sleep can, in the long run, cause numerous health problems.
One research team has discovered some fascinating facts about sleeping. For example, they discovered that children spend around 40 percent of their childhood asleep, whereas the average hours of night sleep for a woman named Martha Stewart is 4 hours. Although interesting, the discovered facts reveal a concerning problem almost half of the people in the U.S. are not sleeping enough, and this happens every night. Unfortunately, this is even more noticeable among the younger population.
Although the recommended night sleep for adults is 7 to 9 hours, nearly half of them sleep way less. People who work in shifts are the ones who get the least amount of sleep, as 40 percent of them sleep less than 6 hours at night. Almost ¾ of teenagers are not getting the right sleep which is 8-10 hours per night. Although some school districts have pushed back the starting time for school to fix the problem of sleep deprivation, most teenagers see this as an opportunity to stay up later.
USA Sleep Statistics
A large study involved half a million Americans who reported the amount of time they sleep on an average night. The results showed that around 35 percent of them are sleeping less than 6 hours per night, and this accounts for all of the states.
The most surprising part was the breakdown between states. It was shown that in Hawaii, the tropical paradise considered by most Americans, only 56 percent of the participants had at least 7 hours of sleep.
On the other hand, 72 percent of the interviewed people from South Dakota had at least 7 hours of night sleep. This result, ranging from 66 to 71 percent, accounts for the rest of the states in Middle America.
In general, states closer to the East Coast showed the worse results, and slightly better were the states closer to the West Coast. It turns out you should head inland if you want to have a good night’s sleep.
Global Sleep Statistics
There’s not much difference in the countries throughout the world in terms of how much sleep people get on an average night. The difference in the results for the countries in the U.S., Canada, the UK, Mexico, and most countries in Europe, are a matter of minutes. The biggest difference is in Asian countries like South Korea, and Japan, where the average night sleep is about an hour less than in the U.S.
Sleeping Habits
Another interesting fact discovered in the research is that most people in the U.S. like to sleep in on the weekends. On average, Americans tend to sleep 30 minutes longer on Friday and Saturday nights. People like to sleep in not only on the weekends but every day of the week, but parenting, work, and other daily responsibilities simply don’t allow this.
Numerous studies have shown that laziness is not the reason why most kids and teenagers in America go to bed and wake up later than adults. There are biological reasons why they get tired later than adults. It’s like they are hardwired to stay up later.
Results showed that couples go to bed and wake up earlier. However, the analyzed couples were in their 20s or 30s, and they go to work earlier, so the fact that they are in a couple and are not single has nothing to do with the outcome of the research.
The Tiredness of Workers and Sleep
58 percent of the workers who participated in the research said they weren’t sleeping enough, and 61 percent of them reported that their lack of sleep was negatively affecting their work. 43 percent of workers say they have noticed a colleague sleeping on the job, whereas 20 percent try to get more sleep by using their sick days.
The global tiredness of workers causes a drop in the business productivity they work for. The solution to this problem is not easy at all, since getting more sleep is simply not possible for many of them.
Sleep Deprivation Can Be Dangerous
Constant sleep deprivation can not only cause various health problems but can also lead to some immediate dangers. The monthly number of Americans who fall asleep while driving is 7.5 million. Although sleeping for a few seconds, it’s enough to lose control and hit another car or pedestrian or run off the road.
Drowsy drivers caused 864 fatal crashes only in 2014. They were usually drivers who used to be in bed at the time when they were driving, which was usually from midnight to 6 am. Also, lack of sleep has caused many deadly accidents at work, especially for those who work around dangerous equipment.
Insomnia Can Lead to Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Over 8 million people in America rely on sleep aids to get a proper night’s sleep. The reports showed that women use sleep aids more than men (5 to 3.1 percent). Although this doesn’t mean abuse in all cases, if their initial prescription doesn’t work overtime, it can lead them to take more strong drugs.
More shocking results are the number of people who use alcohol as a sleeping aid. Reportedly, 1 in 5 Americans do this, but this doesn’t mean they abuse alcohol in all cases, as many drink just a glass of wine before going to bed.
Another reason for insomnia is increased stress which can lead to alcohol and drug abuse as a coping method. Often, this causes a cycle of dependency – drinking before bed or taking heavy medication to fall asleep, waking up tired as a result of the alcohol or medication, and poor job productivity, all of which lead to increased levels of stress. 42 percent of the surveyed women and 52 percent of men reported that stress interfered with their job productivity.
You can learn a lot more facts about sleeping from the infographic below. You might find a solution to your sleeping problems, which will likely require changing some lifestyle habits. While getting enough sleep is crucial for your optimal health and well-being, sleeping too much on the other hand can have negative consequences on your health.
Take a look at the 61 most interesting facts about sleeping you probably didn’t know.