Sleep Smart: The good, the bad, and the sleepy

Sleep health has come to the forefront of many wellness conversations in recent years, so much so that there has been an explosion of sleep tools and technology to provide a growing sleep-deprived population with new ways to fall asleep faster and stay asleep for longer.

Sleep deprivation – recognized as a population health issue by the clinical community – has a global impact that is much larger than many may realize. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cites that about 70 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep problems. Globally, 30% of people experience difficulty in initiating and maintaining sleep [1].  According to Philips 2020 Global Sleep Survey, 60% of adults admitted they are actively looking for new strategies to help them sleep better.

Despite the value people put on sleep around the world, only one-third of people who suffer from sleep disorders seek professional help [2].  This could be linked to a lack of awareness or a lack of emphasis placed on the benefits of good sleep health, compared to other lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise. However, just as with diet and exercise, good sleep can directly impact one’s mental and physical wellbeing and can help those that suffer from depression, obesity, diabetes, heart disease and neurocognitive disease.

While there’s a whole industry that continues to serve a population that suffers from sleep issues, it’s important to seek guidance from experts and individually prioritize sleep as a key pillar of health and wellness to help to create a healthier and more productive tomorrow. In an upcoming series of articles, Philips will explore how sleep affects and is affected by different aspects of health, including the immune system, stress and anxiety, productivity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes in an effort to help the world open their eyes to the importance of a good night’s sleep.

[1] M. LeBlanc, S. Beaulieu-Bonneau, C. Mérette, J. Savard, H. Ivers, and C. M. Morin, “Psychological and health-related quality of life factors associated with insomnia in a population-based sample,” Journal of Psychosomatic Research, vol. 63, no. 2, pp. 157–166, 2007. View at Publisher · View at Google Scholar · View at Scopus

[2] Ohayon MM et al. Correlates of global sleep satisfaction in the psychiatric diagnosis categories. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2002; 56: 239-240