A new study has revealed that 70% of adults are not getting enough sleep and the knock-on effects could lead to serious health problems.
We all know the importance of a good night’s sleep but it seems 70% of adults are still failing to get the NHS-recommended seven hours, according to new data.
And for those who are struggling to get enough shut eye, worrying new research has now revealed that less than seven hours of sleep a night can double the risk of diabetes, heart disease and weight gain.
In a nationwide study of 1,000 people aged between 18 to 99, sleep experts at the Land of Beds worked alongside GP Dr Katrina O’Donnell to understand how poor sleep affects people’s health, work and finances.
The results revealed the UK has a growing sleep crisis with 45% of people waking regularly through the night and 47% admitting they wake up tired almost every day.
The survey also found that 56% of people spend more money on non-essentials items and impulse buys after a bad night’s sleep, while 40% specifically regret financial decisions made when tired.
According to Dr O’Donnell, sleeping less than seven hours per night can have profound effects on the body.
She said: “ Poor sleep can damage every system in the body resulting in poor health. Sleeping just five to six hours a night doubles the risk of being diagnosed with pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes and raises the risk of high blood pressure.
“People with very short sleep times, four or fewer hours a night, are twice as likely to have high blood pressure.”
Dr O’Donnell went on to say that if poor sleep becomes a chronic issue for a person, it’s possible they could be at a higher risk of developing dementia.
She added: “Sleep deprivation is linked to many risk factors for heart disease, including unhealthy levels of cholesterol and higher levels of stress hormones and substances that indicate inflammation.
“People with poor sleep patterns are more likely to develop depression if it becomes a chronic issue and research has increasingly linked sleep disturbance to increased risk of dementia.
“Experts believe that sleep helps clear the brain of amyloid, the protein thought to damage nerve cells in Alzheimer’s.”
Dr O’Donnell recommended that anyone suffering from chronic and persistent sleep problems should contact their GP.
She said: “Anyone who suffers with poor sleep for three months or more should seek medical advice from their GP.”
