Sleeping is essential for our health but the majority of us are far from official recommendations as a new global survey shows.
We pass neara third of our lives sleeping and this activity is essential for our health. However, for several years, sleep duration has been deteriorating on a global scale. A survey initiated by the medical company ResMed carried out between December 2023 and January 2024 compared the sleep habits of several countries. This is one of the largest surveys on sleep with 36,000 people interviewed in 17 different countries, including 2,000 French people. These results highlight a “sleep crisis“. Nearly four out of ten people in the world only spend one to three “good nights” of sleep per week, knowing that they should sleep 7 hours per night according to the National Institute of Sleep and Vigilance (INSV ).
The country where we sleep the most…
Among the 17 countries surveyed, we find at the top of the ranking the Thailand with 7h01 of sleep per night, India with 7:02 and finally Hong Kong with the highest average of 7:04. There Franceshe doesn’t sleep enough and arrives in 5th positionwith 6h48 of sleep per night but the French people surveyed are rather satisfied with the quality of their sleep. Regarding poor sleepers, out of the 17 countries surveyed, 14 are under the INSV recommendations. The three countries most affected by lack of sleep are Japan with 6:27, the United Kingdom with 6:29, and the UNITED STATES with 6:36.
Different causes can explain poor sleep quality in an individual, the first three beinganxiety, work-related stress and financial pressures according to the ResMed survey. Menopause and sleep apnea also contribute to poor sleep. What prevents us from sleeping should not be neglected because good sleep improves our physical and mental health. Doctor Remi Lombard, specialist in sleep disorders at the Flanders clinic, explains as part of the study: “The benefits of quality sleep go far beyond concentration, performance and mood. Studies show that people whose sleep disorders go untreated have a greater risk of develop other health problems : high blood pressure, heart disease, or even diabetes.”
According to the investigation, 3 out of 10 French people say they use medication to help them sleep. However, there are reflexes to adopt to regulate sleep, without resorting to medication. The INSV lists a few: maintain regular bedtimes and wake-up times both during the week and on weekends, expose yourself to daylight particularly in the morning, practice regular physical activity, avoid eating too much fat in the evening, stop using screens an hour before going to bed, or even not staying in bed outside of sleeping times.