Survey: Lack of Sleep Affecting Workplace

As readers of this blog know, I try very hard to get a good amount of sleep every night. But of course, sometimes that doesn't happen. Sometimes I'm up all night with a sick child, others I stay up late toiling over a project for work. On the days that follow those sleepless nights, it's not surprising that I find it harder to concentrate at work.

A recent survey found that work and sleep have a two-way connection. Sometimes not getting enough sleep affects work performance, other times it's work that is keeping people from getting enough sleep. In the below article, my colleague, Dr. Lori Wiviott Tischler, comments on this recent study. 

The study, done by the National Sleep Foundation, found that the average worker got less than 7 hours of sleep. The average bedtime was just before 11 p.m., with a wake-up time of about 5:30 a.m. Fewer than half of the workers felt that they slept well.

More than 1 in 3 respondents said they had fallen asleep or came close to falling asleep while driving. About 12% had come to work late in the last month because they were sleepy. The survey laid the blame for poor sleep in part on the global economy. In some cases, workers are expected to be productive 24/7. People also worked from home close to five hours each week.

These results didn't really surprise me, but it's certainly enlightening to read the numbers. One of the most common complaints that we see in our primary care practice is fatigue. Rarely, I find a medical reason for someone's fatigue. More often, it's stress, family and work-related causes that keep my patients from getting enough sleep and sleeping well. It is easy to give sleep low priority in our busy lives. As a result, we become chronically sleep-deprived.

The consequences are what we see reported in the survey. People also can become depressed, think more slowly and get sick more easily. When we are tired, we make poorer food choices, too. Sugar, carbs, and increased caffeine help us cope. Ultimately, though, they aren't making us healthier.

As we move our clocks forward this weekend for daylight savings time, we are often reminded to check our smoke detectors. I think this might be a good time to check your sleep habits as well. It's also National Sleep Awareness Week.

Here are some tips for healthy sleep. Doctors call this good sleep hygiene. The tips are easy. Doing them can be tough!

• Maintain regular bedtimes and wake-up times, even on the weekends.
• Have a regular, soothing bedtime routine that does not involve TV.
• Sleep cool. Sleep comfortably. Sleep in the dark.
• Don't eat right before bed.
• Work out, but not right before bedtime.
• Avoid caffeine and other stimulants.
• Don't use alcohol to help you fall asleep. It may make you sleepy, but it prevents good sleep quality.

What should you do if you're following the great sleep tips and you still fall asleep during the day or otherwise feel extremely tired? In that case, it's a good idea to get your doctor involved. There are several sleep disorders to consider. They include restless leg syndrome and sleep apnea. Other medical conditions can make people feel very tired, too. They include anemia and thyroid disease.

Julie K. Silver, M.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School. She is also the Chief Editor of Books for Harvard Health Publications.

Sleep
Need better sleep? Learn how to get it with Improving Sleep: A Guide to a Good Night's Rest. This special report from Harvard Medical School describes the factors that can disturb sleep, the latest in sleep research, and, most importantly, what you can do to get a good night's sleep. It also includes in-depth information on sleep disorders, including restless legs syndrome, narcolepsy, and sleep apnea.

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