Insufficient sleep is a growing but underreported pandemic

Technology, especially personal electronic devices such as smartphones and laptops, has significantly disrupted sleep and can lead to long-term negative consequences for individuals and communities. Insufficient sleep has been linked to a variety of health problems, including cardiovascular morbidity, diabetes, obesity, and mental health issues, as well as an increased burden on healthcare services and workplace accidents.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 35.2% of adults in the US sleep for less than seven hours per night. This lack of sleep can have short-term effects, such as drowsiness and poor mood along with the long-term health consequences mentioned earlier. In addition, technologies role in sleep deprivation is becoming more evident. In the UK, adults spend an average of 8 hours and 41 minutes per day on media devices, which is higher than the average amount of sleep they get at 8 hours and 21 minutes.

Technology use, particularly social media and streaming services, is expected to continue to increase and interfere with sleep. To address this issue, individuals can adopt habits such as not using devices before bed and maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, while governments and companies can implement regulations on technology use and educate the public about the dangers of sleep deprivation.

References:

GlobalData Thematic Research. (2022, December 23). Insufficient sleep is a growing but underreported pandemic. Verdict. Retrieved December 23, 2022, from https://www.verdict.co.uk/insufficient-sleep/