{"id":113926,"date":"2022-10-01T11:30:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-01T15:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=113926"},"modified":"2022-10-01T11:30:00","modified_gmt":"2022-10-01T15:30:00","slug":"poor-sleep-often-equals-poor-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=113926","title":{"rendered":"Poor Sleep Often Equals Poor Health"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Capital Blue Cross \u2013 \u00a0THINK<\/a>\u00a0(Trusted Health Information, News, and Knowledge) is a community publication of Capital Blue Cross. Our mission is to provide education, resources, and news on the latest health and insurance issues.<\/b><\/p>\n

Sleeping problems lead to far more trouble than tiredness. Up to 70 million Americans suffer from short sleep duration, which has been linked \u2013 if left unchecked \u2013 to numerous chronic conditions and even an increased risk of premature death.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t snooze on sleep deprivation. It\u2019s a serious health issue, and can detract from your employees\u2019 focus and productivity.<\/p>\n

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends adults get 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night, but for many Americans, a full night\u2019s sleep is just a dream.<\/p>\n

Up to 70 million of us suffer from short sleep duration, the CDC says, and that includes about one-third of Pennsylvania\u2019s adults.<\/p>\n

An increasing body of research is also connecting sleep problems to premature death. A 2021 study in the journal Sleep Research found a clear link between people\u2019s sleep struggles and early deaths \u2013 about a 44% increased risk. And for those who often awake in the middle of the night and struggle to fall asleep again, it\u2019s even scarier: a 56% increased risk of early death.<\/p>\n

The same study showed a nearly 50% spike in dementia risk for those who routinely reported trouble falling asleep.<\/p>\n

\u201cSleeping disorders and disruptions are a very real public health problem,\u201d said Dr. Jennifer Chambers, chief medical officer at Capital Blue Cross. \u201cIncreased incidence of cardiovascular disease, car and work accidents, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, depression, and dementia have all been connected to inadequate sleep. So it\u2019s important to take any persisting sleep difficulties seriously, and to consult with your doctor if the issue continues after you\u2019ve taken commonsense steps to improve it.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s important to take any persisting sleep difficulties seriously, and to consult with your doctor if the issue continues after you\u2019ve taken commonsense steps to improve\u00a0it.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u2014 Dr. Jennifer Chambers, chief medical officer at Capital Blue Cross<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Poor sleep pounds the economy, too. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, insufficient sleep cost the U.S. $299 billion to $433 billion in 2020, a tab expected to balloon to as much as $456 billion by 2030. Part of that cost comes from lost productivity, since poor sleep triggers employee problems such as sluggishness, irritability, and duller focus.<\/p>\n

Help Put Poor Sleep to Rest<\/b><\/p>\n

We can take several steps to sleep more soundly. The Sleep Foundation offers these tips:<\/p>\n