Sleep Health

Background

Getting enough sleep is not a luxury—it is something people need to reach their highest attainable level of health. It is recommended that adults get 7 or more hours of sleep per night and children, depending on their age, get between 8-16 hours each day. One in three US adults report that they get less that the recommend amount of sleep.

An estimated 50 to 70 million Americans chronically suffer from a disorder of sleep and wakefulness, hindering daily functioning and adversely affecting health and longevity. The cumulative long-term effects of sleep deprivation and sleep disorders have been associated with a wide range of negative health consequences including an increased risk of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, depression, heart attack, and stroke. In the short-term, not getting enough sleep can also result in motor vehicle crashes and mistakes at work that can result in machine-related injuries and disability [1].  

The DC Healthy People 2020 goals are that:

1. The public is knowledgeable about how adequate sleep and treatment of sleep disorders improve health, productivity, wellness, quality of life, and safety on roads, at home, and in the workplace.

2. Sleep deprivation is rare and sleep disorders appropriately treated.

3. Environments support healthy sleep for infants, children, and families.

Adults

Sleep deprivation can be caused by many factors including stress, excessive noise or light from using technology late at night, the need to work multiple jobs to afford basic needs, or physical factors such as diet or exercise. Some medical conditions, medications, and sleep disorders like sleep apnea also affect how long and how well you sleep.

About 60% of District adults reported they got sufficient sleep in the past month [2]. The prevalence of sufficient sleep varies by sex, race/ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, and even geography.  Increased public education and greater awareness of the burden of sleep loss and sleep disorders as well as scientific advances have poised the field of sleep medicine for great strides.

However, advances will require an organized strategy to increase and coordinate efforts in training and educating the public, researchers, and clinicians, as well as improved infrastructure and funding for this endeavor [1]. Without sleep health education, individuals often prioritize other activities over sleep and accept constant sleepiness and sleep disruption as inevitable parts of life.

Adolescents

In 2017, 24.6% of high school students in the District reported that they get sufficient sleep, which is consistent with the national average [3]. However, the prevalence of sufficient sleep varied by sex, race/ethnicity, age, and sexual orientation among District students.