Almost a third of Americans aren’t getting enough sleep, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [1] It is a startling statistic when you realize every third car on the road is being driven by someone who’s tired. Not only does lack of sleep affect your safety, it also affects your health. That’s why we at Horizon Family Medical Group are reminding our patients to celebrate Sleep Awareness Week Mar. 11-17.
How much sleep should I be getting?
Everyone is different, and your sleep needs may vary from the sleep needs of your friends and family. On average, however, adults should be getting between 7 and 8 hours of sleep each night. Teens should be getting between 8 and 10 hours each night. [2] But according to one study, only 15 percent of teens are getting enough sleep on school nights. [3]
The National Sleep Foundation created the graphic below to show how much sleep people should be getting, depending on their age group:
Lack of sleep is linked to health concerns
Not sleeping enough can leave you foggy and slow, but did you also know that studies show poor sleep is linked with serious health issues? People who don’t get enough sleep are at higher risk for developing heart problems, diabetes, and obesity. [4]
Some sleep statistics
The CDC has some wonderful resources that show sleep variations/deprivation can vary according to geography. People in New York, for example, get less sleep that people in Seattle. Consequently, people in New York are at higher risk of chronic health conditions, including cancer. [5]
Resources
- https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2016/p0215-enough-sleep.html
- https://healthfinder.gov/HealthTopics/Category/everyday-healthy-living/mental-health-and-relationship/get-enough-sleep#take-action_1
- https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-topics/teens-and-sleep
- https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/features/9-reasons-to-sleep-more#1
- https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/data_statistics.html