WASHINGTON, DC – Americans are not alone when it comes to poor sleep and/or sleep disordered breathing. In an international poll from the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), Japan and the United States reported the least amount of sleep.
Specifically, Japanese and Americans report sleeping about 30 to 40 minutes less on workdays than those in the other countries surveyed, averaging 6 hours and 22 minutes and 6 hours and 31 minutes of sleep, respectively. Two-thirds of Japanese (66%) say they sleep less than 7 hours on work nights, compared to 53% of Americans, 39% in the United Kingdom, 36% of Germans, 30% of Canadians and 29% of Mexicans.
“As the first international public opinion poll on sleep, the National Sleep Foundation 2013 Bedroom Poll makes an important contribution to the field,” commented Namni Goel, PhD, research associate professor of Psychology in Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, and a member of the NSF 2013 International Bedroom Poll expert panel. “Although we know that everyone sleeps, the rather remarkable cultural differences within this universal experience have not been adequately explored. It is NSF’s hope that this initial poll will inspire more research on this critical yet understudied topic.”
Less than one-half of people in Mexico (48%), the United States (44%), Canada (43%), the United Kingdom (42%) and Germany (40%), and slightly more than one-half in Japan (54%) say they get a good night’s sleep every night or almost every night on work nights or week nights.
One-fourth of those in the United Kingdom (27%), the United States (25%) and Canada (23%) say they rarely or never get a good night’s sleep during the work week. Notably, one in ten in the United Kingdom (11%) say they never get a good night’s sleep on work nights, twice the percentage of the other countries surveyed.
Despite slightly higher reported sleep satisfaction, almost one-third of Japanese (31%, about twice the rate of all other countries surveyed,) say they rarely or never woke up when they needed to during the work week, suggesting more sleep is desired.
“It is important to look at cultural differences in sleep, and not always to assume a U.S. focus,” says Jan Born, PhD, professor of Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Tubingen, Germany and a member of the NSF 2013 International Bedroom Poll expert panel. “Sleep is deeply inter-connected with health and performance, but it is often overlooked by researchers. This poll shows intriguing cultural variations on how we tackle this nightly, biological ritual.”
For those experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness, snoring, or “stop breathing” episodes, the NSF recommends contacting health care professionals for sleep apnea screening and possible CPAP treatment.
Medtrade, held this year from Oct 7-10 in Orlando, Fla, is a great place to explore CPAP market possibilities, with sessions such as:
Tuesday, Oct 8, 2013 – 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Are There Opportunities for Growth with Your Sleep Program?
Speakers: Susean Nichols, President, Millennium Management Services
Track: Sleep/Oxygen & Respiratory
Tuesday, Oct 8, 2013 – 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Tying the Knot: Legal and Regulatory Aspects of DME Joint Ventures with Hospitals and Health Care Systems for PAP and Other Sleep Services
Speakers: Daniel Brown, Managing Shareholder, Atlanta Office, The Health Law Partners, P.C.
Track: Sleep/Oxygen & Respiratory
See medtrade.com for more information. Significant savings are available to providers who register for Medtrade attendance sometime in the next two months through early bird rates. Click here to register for Medtrade in Orlando, Fla.
Tuesday, Oct 8, 2013 – 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Are There Opportunities for Growth with Your Sleep Program?
Speakers: Susean Nichols, President, Millennium Management Services
Track: Sleep/Oxygen & Respiratory
Tuesday, Oct 8, 2013 – 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Tying the Knot: Legal and Regulatory Aspects of DME Joint
Ventures with Hospitals and Health Care Systems for PAP and Other Sleep
Services
Speakers: Daniel Brown, Managing Shareholder, Atlanta Office, The Health Law Partners, P.C.
Track: Sleep/Oxygen & Respiratory
See medtrade.com for
more information. Significant savings are available to providers who
register for Medtrade attendance sometime in the next two months through
early bird rates. Click here
to register for Medtrade in Orlando, Fla.
– See more at:
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