A new Gallup poll, published April 19, 2024, shows that more Americans feel they do not get enough sleep each night:
In fact, the proportion of Americans who get eight or more hours of sleep has decreased since 2013, and the number of people saying they get five hours or less has also increased since 2013:
And, more Americans state they are experiencing more stress in their daily lives:
Now, is this because the stress is causing less sleep? Or, is the sleep deprivation causing the increased stress? That is, as of yet, unclear.
What is clear, however, is that more Americans are skimping on their sleep, and this is a bad thing. Please do not skimp on your sleep. As a Board-certified Sleep Medicine specialist, I say that getting enough sleep each night is of the utmost importance to your health and well-being.
In the classic sleep deprivation experiments on rats, when they were totally sleep deprived, the rats died. Died. Sleep deprivation causes enormous stress on the body. It can cause hallucinations, and I have seen this in patients who were admitted to the ICU. Sleep deprivation can make one as impaired as someone who is intoxicated, and sleepy driving can be indistinguishable from drunk driving.
This is clearly dangerous to your health. Please do not skimp on your sleep. Sleep is so important for brain health, mental health, and physical health. In addition, sleep deprivation can make you crave simple carbohydrates, and this can lead to weight gain and possibly worse sleep (due to sleep apnea).
Most people need 7-8 hours of sleep per night to feel refreshed and get the most benefit. Make every effort to get those 7-8 hours. Avoid alcohol close to bedtime. Avoid caffeine close to bedtime. Keep the bed only for sleep or sex (not phone or TV time). Make sure the bedroom is dark when you sleep. These are important things you can do to ensure a good night’s rest.
More Americans are not getting the sleep they need, and they are more stressed. This is not a good trend. Please, do not skimp on your sleep. It is so very dangerous.
Don't Skimp on Your Sleep