- The International World Sleeping Day wants to mobilize against the widespread effects of sleeping disorders
- Sleep is seriously neglected
- Research results certify that economy and health may benefit greatly from high quality sleep
- Lack of sleep affects us both individually and socially
As every year, the second Friday in March was all about sleep: as an initiative of the World Sleep Society (WSS), the International World Sleep Day should on one hand celebrate this important source of health, and on the other hand draw attention to the importance of preventing sleep disorders.
Balanced diet plans, focus on sport and fitness, practiced mindfulness – today many spend their everyday lives with an increased awareness of actions to maintain their vitality. After all, there is much to be experienced; you want to be present and active in order to fully enjoy your time. However, it can still be said that the health factor sleep, which is available to all of us, is largely neglected. For too many people, the sleep duration depends on the time they have left between evening activities and working hours, instead of the other way round: giving sleep the superior priority it deserves.
12 facts from sleep research – why modern man needs sleep
Here are a few scientifically determined facts from sleep research that speak for a social rethink and prioritization of sleep:
- For young athletes, the risk of injury increases by up to 70% if they sleep less than eight hours a night.
- However, sleep duration alone is not determining: studies have shown that the quality of sleep has an even greater impact on our functionality than quantity.
- Just one night of low quality sleep has a negative impact on the ability to learn and remember, as well as on the attention span.
- High quality sleep should be a deep sleep and about (if possible consecutive) 7 to 9 hours long.
- You can tell who has slept well: rested people are perceived as attractive, youthful and awake.
- The negative consequences add up: if you sleep only six hours for fourteen nights in a row, you might as well not sleep for two whole nights. At any rate, this can be observed in the ability to concentrate, which is lowered equally in both cases.
- Regular, uninterrupted sleep can lower high blood pressure and reduce the development of chronic diseases, diabetes and obesity.
- Renouncement of sleep affects the hormonal balance in general, but especially the hormones that control our appetite. This can lead to an increased intake of food that is low in nutrients and rich in calories, and thus also has long-term effects on our well-being.
- The collective lack of sleep also leaves its mark economically: according to estimates, the sleep deficit among working people in the United States causes additional costs of around $ 411 billion annually.
- In a survey of people with frequent sleeping problems, 46% state that they make more mistakes at work or that they are not always able to work due to health reasons.
- In the United States, approximately 75% of all teenagers sleep less than the 8-10 hours recommended for their age group.
- Around 2 billion people worldwide suffer from sleeping disorders.
Source: worldsleepday.org
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