Consequences of lack of sleep

Lack of sleep increases the risk of death and worsens the ability to work

Anna Stavina, XX2 century

The lack of sleep among the working population of the United States costs the country's economy $ 411 billion, which is 2.28% of gross national product (GNP), according to a new study.

According to the results of the work carried out by employees of the non-profit organization RAND Europe (the name is formed from the English Research and Development, "Research and Development"), part of the RAND Corporation, lack of sleep leads to an increased risk of death, as well as to a decrease in labor productivity, which has a serious negative effect on the economy.

A person who sleeps on average less than 6 hours per night has a 13% increased risk of death compared to those who sleep from 7 to 9 hours. For those who sleep more than 6, but less than 7 hours, this risk increases by 7%. The researchers recognized 7-9 hours per night as the "normal amount of sleep".

About 1.2 million working days are lost annually in the USA due to lack of sleep. The decrease in productivity is due both to the fact that people do not go to work as a result of lack of sleep, and to the fact that they are present at the workplace, but do not perform their duties effectively enough.

The study "Why Sleep is Important – The economic Consequences of lack of Sleep" (Why Sleep Matters – The Economic Costs of Insufficient Sleep) was the first work devoted to assessing the economic consequences of lack of sleep among the working population of five different countries: the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Germany and Japan. The work used large amounts of data provided by employees and employers, as well as information about sleep duration.

Marco Hafner, head of research at RAND Europe and lead author of the paper, said: "Our study has demonstrated that the consequences of lack of sleep are enormous. Lack of sleep affects not only the health and well-being of individuals, it also affects the national economy, reducing productivity and increasing the risk of death among the able-bodied population.

Improving the quality of sleep and its duration is extremely important. Our work has shown that small changes can lead to large-scale results. For example, if those who slept less than six hours a night start sleeping 6-7 hours, the US economy will receive an additional $226.4 billion."

The USA is characterized by the largest financial losses (up to $ 411 billion, 2.28% of GNP) and loss of working time (1.2 million working days) due to lack of sleep among the able-bodied population. In second place is Japan, where financial losses amount to up to 138 billion US dollars (2.92% of GNP), and the loss of working time is about 600 thousand days.

To improve the situation, the researchers have developed a number of recommendations for individuals, employers and authorities.

Individuals are advised to adhere to certain waking hours, limit the use of gadgets before going to bed and pay enough attention to physical activity during the day.

Employers are encouraged to realize the importance of healthy sleep and the role of the company in ensuring it. Equip bright workplaces and places for daytime rest. To deal with psychological stress at work and not to encourage the active use of electronic devices during non-working hours.

The authorities are encouraged to support physicians who provide assistance for sleep disorders, encourage people's interest in sleep issues and consider postponing the start of school classes at a later time.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru  02.12.2016