Are You Sleep-Deprived?

Univera Healthcare Survey Shows too many adults are sleep deprived

Four in 10 upstate New York adults are not getting enough sleep, according to a survey commissioned by Univera Healthcare. The recent time change from daylight saving to standard time likely compounded this issue, according to the health insurer. Sleep experts recommend that adults get at least seven hours of sleep a night.

“Turning our clocks forward each March and turning them back each November disrupts our body’s natural 24-hour cycle, or circadian rhythm,” said Richard Vienne, D.O., Univera Healthcare vice president and chief medical officer. “The impact on an already sleep-deprived society is like nationally imposed jet lag, although it’s easier to adjust in the fall, when we gain an hour, than it is in the spring, when we lose one.”

Univera commissioned One Research to conduct an online survey of upstate New York adults ages 18 and older. Among the findings:

Men are significantly more likely than women to report getting 7 or more hours of sleep each night.
Average hours of sleep vary with age: Compared with other age groups, adults 35- to 44-years-old are the least likely to get 7 hours or more of sleep at night. Significantly more adults age 65 and older report getting the most sleep.
1 in 5 adults report that they snore. More men report snoring than women.
More than half of adults (especially women) report often feeling tired during the day.
8 out of 10 adults have tried at least one method to improve sleep

Obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and depression all are health conditions associated with not getting enough sleep, although it’s not clear whether sleep disruption leads to these clinical problems or the problems disturb sleep.

Poor sleep is linked with impaired decision-making and decreased alertness, which can result in injuries to the sleep-deprived and/or those around them. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that in 2017, 91,000 police-reported crashes involved drowsy drivers. Those crashes led to an estimated 50,000 injuries and nearly 800 deaths.

Lack of sleep also is an economic issue. The National Safety Council estimates that worker fatigue costs employers $136 billion a year in health-related lost productivity.

“As a society, we need to recognize the dangers of trying to get by with fewer hours of sleep and wake up to the health benefits of a good night’s rest,” said Vienne. He offers the following tips for improved sleep.