Sleep is an essential human function that allows the body to rest and for the brain to recharge. When you don’t get adequate hours or quality of sleep, your body doesn’t get the full benefits of a good night’s sleep such as memory consolidation and muscle repair. However, while sleep is vital for your overall health and well-being, factors such as stress can cause sleep deprivation. Read on for some more information about how stress affects the way Americans sleep.
Sleep and Stress
In humans, stress can trigger the ANS (autonomic nervous system) to release particular hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones elevate your heart rate so that blood can circulate efficiently to your muscles so that you’re primed to take abrupt action when necessary. When you’re in this state of ‘hypervigilance’, you’re not likely to sleep deeply, according to the American Psychological Association (APA).
How Stress Impacts the Way Americans Sleep
Adults in the US sleep for less than 7 hours each night, according to CDC, which is less than the recommended sleeping time . According to a recent study by the American Psychological Association (APA) researchers found that stress may be affecting American adult’s quality of sleep, who report sleeping for 6.7 hours, on average, per night. Moreover, 42% of American adults report that the quality of their sleep is either poor or fair and 43% report that in the past month, stress has interfered with their quality of sleep.
Many people report an increase in stress that correlates with a decrease in length and quality of their sleep. Those with higher levels of stress feel even more stressed when they don’t get adequate sleep. The aforementioned APA study also found that only 20% of American adults get good or excellent quality sleep. Thirty-seven percent of survey participants say they feel tired due to stress. Additionally, many adults report detrimental effects due to getting inadequate sleep. The negative consequences include:
- Feeling lazy or sluggish
- Feeling irritable
- Decreased motivation
- Having trouble concentrating
It is worth noting that adults who sleep for fewer hours are much more likely to report that they have higher levels of stress compared to the previous year. On average, those with lower levels of stress report sleeping for longer each night than those with higher levels of stress. Besides, they are more likely to rate the quality of their sleep as very good or excellent.
Effects of Chronic Sleep Deprivation
While occasional sleep deprivation is unlikely to cause significant harm, continual sleep deprivation can lead to an increased risk of multiple chronic health conditions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people who don’t sleep for at least 7 hours per night have a greater risk of certain health conditions including:
- Heart disease
- Obesity
- Stroke
- Diabetes
- Arthritis
- Depression
- Kidney disease
How to Reduce Stress to Improve Sleep
- Mindfulness – Research shows that mindfulness meditation can help you manage stress, depression, and anxiety.
- Exercise – Research suggests that physical exercise can help treat stress and anxiety-related disorders.
- Address Your Worries – According to a 2021 survey conducted by Sunday Citizen, the top causes of stress in the US include:
- Relationships or family- Cultivate a meaningful bond with your family and friends during off-work hours.
- Education or work- Set realistic, achievable goals on your educational/work front.
- Finances/money- Stick to a budget and save for planned investments.
- Politics and News-Avoid pointless debates on political or other issues that do not concern you.
- Health-Take good care of your physical and mental health.
Alleviating stress can be challenging. To manage stress, you should zero in on and address the source of your worries. For instance, if you’re worried about you and your family’s health, finding the right insurance coverage can help tackle your fears. At Donald Weiss Insurance Services, we will help find the insurance coverage that suits your needs.
