Working Americans Are Getting Less Sleep, Especially Those Who Save Our Lives Oc

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Working Americans Are Getting Less Sleep, Especially Those Who Save Our Lives

October 28, 20195:04 AM ET

 

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/10/28/773622789/working-americans-are-getting-less-sleep-especially-those-who-save-our-lives

 

"If you often hit that mid-afternoon slump and feel drowsy at your desk, you're not alone. The number of working Americans who get less than seven hours of sleep a night is on the rise.

 

And the people hardest hit when it comes to sleep deprivation are those we depend on the most for our health and safety: police and health care workers, along with those in the transportation field, like truck drivers.

 

In a recent study, researchers from Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., analyzed data from the National Health Interview Survey. They looked at self-reports of sleep duration among 150,000 adults working in different occupations from 2010 to 2018. Researchers found the prevalence of inadequate sleep, defined as seven hours or less, increased from 30.9% in 2010 to 35.6% in 2018.

 

But it was worse for police officers and health care workers. Around half of respondents in these professions reported not getting seven hours a night. For many, the norm was six or even just five hours.

 

The researchers didn't examine why sleep time is dwindling. But Jagdish Khubchandani, professor of health science at Ball State University who headed the study, speculates one of the biggest reasons has to do with stress, which is on the rise among Americans.

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Stress can be equally oppressive for healthcare workers. Dealing with severe illness and injury throughout the day, coping with life-and-death situations can make it challenging to let go at night. In the survey 45% of these workers reported getting less than seven hours sleep a night.

 

"Often for doctors, they are always on call, it's a constant connection," says Khubchandani, which can make it nearly impossible to detach from the pressures of work.

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Another factor contributing to sleeplessness, of course, is technology. Today's "constant connectivity" leaves little room for rest and relaxation, says researcher Khubchandani.

 

"It's almost like we're addicted to more information which does not allow your mind to rest and sleep," he says. In his neighborhood, for example, he says, he sees people walking around, scrolling on their phones, instead of "just taking a walk after work, forgetting everything."

 

He adds that another reason Americans may be getting less sleep is that they're living longer, often with chronic disease which can be painful and keep them up at night.

 

Khubchandani says people can make lifestyle changes that might help them sleep better. Things like a healthy diet, exercise and meditation. But, he says, employers also have a role to play and "should use health promotion strategies to ensure that workers who struggle with sleep problems are assisted." For example, employers can use education programs to teach employees strategies to deal with stress.

 

Psychologist Arnedt says that for individuals with clinical insomnia, the first line intervention is cognitive behavioral therapy which helps patients develop routines and behaviors to help them get to sleep and stay asleep.

 

"It's a relatively short-term treatment so most patients can be seen in the course of four to six visits and we have excellent outcomes at the end of that period," he says.

 

But for the average worrywart Arnedt suggests a "wind down period before bedtime." This should be done in dim light conditions. People should not be on their tablet, smart phone or other electronics that emit light. They should engage in quiet, relaxing, sedentary activities. "Mindfulness meditation is a great activity to engage in prior to going to bed,'' he says.

 

"The idea is to prepare your body for bed, get it ready for going to sleep, train your brain and your body that sleep is coming."