The U.S. is suffering from various epidemics, unlike any other country in the world. One epidemic plaguing the population and destroying the country’s efficiency and effectiveness is the insufficient sleep epidemic.
A staggering 70% of the adult American population suffers from insufficient sleep. About 11% are suffering inadequate almost every night. This epidemic is a serious concern among many people because it’s connected to virtually any part of our daily lives. Moreover, the lack of sleep can lead to various disorders and health problems.
Sleep Disorders
People who experience insufficient sleep for long periods can experience insomnia. Insomnia is characterized by the inability to sleep at designated times and the inability to stay asleep. About 70 million people in the U.S. have insomnia, making it the most common sleep disorder in the country. Other less common sleep disorders that plague the country because of insufficient sleep include narcolepsy, circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders, and REM sleep behavior disorder.
Having a sleep disorder exacerbates the problem of insufficient sleep. Those that have sleep disorders have the risk of completely losing their functionality. Moreover, it can lead to mental illnesses such as Major Depressive Disorder and General Anxiety Disorder. However, these aren’t the only problems that sprout from insufficient sleep. Insufficient sleep can also lead to various health concerns.
Health Problems
Health problems are all too common in the U.S. One reason for this is because insufficient sleep epidemic in the country.
Insufficient sleep can lead to high blood pressure and diabetes. Furthermore, those with a history of heart disease are likely to get a heart attack due to a lack of sleep. Those who lack good quality sleep are prone to obesity and become overweight.
These health problems are a severe concern in the country, considering that heart-related complications are the main leading cause of death in the US. Solving this epidemic can drastically reduce these fatalities, giving Americans more healthy lives. But how are the government and various NGOs are reacting to this epidemic?
The CDC
The Central of Disease Control and Prevention has let out the statement that insufficient sleep is an epidemic in America and should be solved immediately. Currently, the CDC is running a campaign to let people know about this epidemic and what they can do about it.
Moreover, the CDC is also keeping track of this epidemic. They assess Americans and why they lack sleep and survey them on what the government can do to make their sleep better. They are also funding studies regarding sleep deprivation worldwide to ensure that we get to the bottom of this growing epidemic.
The CDC is becoming the central information hub for all things regarding sleep. However, it’s not the only organization trying to combat this epidemic. It has partnered with other organizations such as the American Academy of Sleep Medicine to help combat the epidemic.
The Sleep Foundation
The Sleep Foundation is an NGO that looks into the way Americans sleep and why they suffer sleep deprivation. This foundation is primarily research-based, so they offer various organizations the funding and information they need to work on solving this epidemic.
Their website contains all of the information you need regarding insufficient sleep and sleep disorders. Furthermore, they also review sleep-related products such as mattresses, blankets, and various sleep medications. All of these help people make the necessary purchasing decisions to improve sleep.
The Private Sector
The private sector is also doing everything it can to ensure that the American people have a sufficient sleep. For example, it’s only recently that companies have started to discourage overtime work among employees. Furthermore, many are researching technologies that can help the average American the sleep they need.
Many are creating certain technologies that help people sleep. One known technology is biorhythm. This tech allows you to take note of your sleeping habit and adjust your bed’s temperature alongside it. If you’re married, a duo biorhyth or couple’s biorhythm allows you to be in sync with your partner. It keeps track of both your current state of sleep to ensure that you don’t wake each other up.
Combating the Epidemic
We still need more information to combat the insufficient sleep epidemic plaguing America. There is still so much we don’t know about sleep, and this lack of information is making it challenging for us to combat the epidemic.
Funding and resources are both of the things we currently lack. By consulting the government agencies and NGOs combating insufficient sleep, you can help them get the necessities they need to further research sleep deprivation among Americans. However, if you’re someone experiencing sleep deprivation, make sure to get help from these organizations.
