|
 More than one out of three American adults do not get enough sleep,
according to a study released Thursday from the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.
“That’s a big problem” says, Dr. Nancy Collop, director of the Emory
Sleep Center at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, who
is familiar with the study.
“You don’t function as well, your ability to pay attention is
reduced, and it can have serious, long term side effects. It can
change your metabolism for the worse."
At least seven hours of sleep is considered healthy for an adults
aged 18 to 60, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine
and the Sleep Research Society.
CDC analyzed data from a 2014 survey of 444,306 adults and found
65.2 percent of respondents reported getting that amount of sleep.
"Lifestyle changes such as going to bed at the same time each night;
rising at the same time each morning; and turning off or removing
televisions, computers, mobile devices from the bedroom, can help
people get the healthy sleep they need," said Dr. Wayne Giles,
director of the CDC's Division of Population Health, in a statement.
Getting less than seven hours a night is associated with an
increased risk of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart
disease, stroke and frequent mental distress, the study shows.
Conducted by the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the
study is the first of its kind to look at all 50 U.S. states and the
District of Columbia.
[to top of second column] |
The study found that among those most likely to get great sleep were
married or have a job, with 67 percent and 65 percent respectively
saying they get enough. Only 56 percent of divorced adults said they
get enough sleep, and just over half of jobless adults sleep seven
hours a night regularly.
Among the best sleepers were college graduates, with 72 percent
reporting seven hours or more.
The study found geographical differences as well as ethnic
disparities. Hawaiian residents get less sleep than those living in
South Dakota, the study found. Non-Hispanic whites sleep better than
non-Hispanic black residents, with 67 and 54 percent respectively.
(Editing by Karen Brooks and Cynthia Osterman)
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2016 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
