According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), insufficient sleep is a public health epidemic.
Not getting enough shut-eye has been linked with motor vehicle crashes, occupational errors and also industrial disasters. Think back to a time when you went out before work the next morning. Were you groggy and unfocused the next day? Maybe you worked a little slower or you made small, but easy-to-fix errors. No sweat, right? Wrong. Occupational errors can be small, but sometimes they can be life threatening.
A new study estimates that insomnia is responsible for 274,000 workplace accidents and errors each year, adding up to $31 billion in extra costs, according to ConsumerHealthDay.com
Similar errors can occur while driving, according to the CDC.
About 4 percent of U.S. adults said they nodded off or fell asleep at least once while driving in the previous month. Some earlier studies reached a similar conclusion, but the CDC telephone survey of 147,000 adults was conducted on a much larger scale. It was conducted in 19 states and the District of Columbia in 2009 and 2010.
The National Department of Transportation estimates drowsy driving to be responsible for 1,550 fatalities and 40,000 nonfatal injuries a year in the U.S.
Also, people who sleep less are more likely to suffer from chronic diseases like depression, hypertension, obesity and diabetes.
An estimated 50-70 million U.S. adults have sleep disorders, notably snoring—which is a major indicator bad sleep.
So, what can you do to get more z’s and avoid putting yourself in harm’s way?
Switch Up Your Routine to Get More Z’s
- Our bodies like repetition. Try to go to bed at night and wake up in the morning at the same time each day. Your body will naturally begin to fall asleep easier. This is a great tip for someone who has trouble sleeping.
- Avoid large meals before hitting the sack. Your stomach wants to relax too. It doesn’t like digesting a big meal when the rest of you is trying to relax and drift off to dream land.
- Say no to caffeine after 2 p.m. and alcohol close to bedtime.
- Avoid smoking. If you snore, it will only make it worse.
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