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The National Sleep Foundation released the results of its annual sleep poll today, where they surveyed more than 1,500 people between ages of 13 and 64.
Here are some of the findings: 43 percent of Americans say they rarely or never get a good night’s sleep during the week.
Nearly everyone, 95 percent, use electronics (like TV, computer, or cell phone) within the hour just before bed. Researchers caution that the use of such devices are particularly harmful to the sleep-onset process, since the artificial light can suppress the release of melatonin which is our sleep hormone.
More than half of teenagers report consuming and producing text messages every night just before bed compared to only 15 percent of those in their 30s and 5 percent of the baby boomers.
And it’s the teenagers who are the sleepiest of all, with baby boomers getting the most sleep. Scientists caution since most teens get two hours less sleep than the recommended 9 hours, maybe an environment with fewer OMGs and ROFLs might encourage a calm wind down before bed.
—Christie Nicholson
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5 Comments
Add Comment"Electornic Gadgets?" I'm glad I use electronic ones instead. The electronic gadgets are very helpful for proofreading and running "spell check."
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThis non-profit, tax-exempt NSF has some nice $695 bedroom air filters at their site.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this"...the artificial light can suppress release melatonin..."
"Nearly everyone, 95 percent, use electronics...the hour just before bed." or maybe its "More than half of teenagers, 15% in their 30's and 5% boomers..."
Darn! More OMG's just before bed.
I sometimes leave my laptop open at night so I can go to sleep watching TV. The line between being online and watching TV is very blurry. After all, when I'm watching tv through TVDevo.com, I also am online since all the tv shows are streamed over the internet.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWatching TV puts me to sleep any time of day.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisMy consumption of such things as TV and computer screens prior to "hitting the sack" are minimal, but in general my feelings about this research is: "What a crock......"
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI don't buy it at all.........