Which state has the most sleep deprived residents in the country?
Quality sleep has huge benefits for your body, from injury prevention to mental health, but nearly one third of Americans aren’t getting enough of it.
Sleep, along with exercise and diet, is one of the three pillars of a healthy lifestyle, but the one which is often overlooked. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that adults should aim to get at least seven hours of sleep a night.
However countless studies have found that many people do not the required amount of rest every night, with an estimated 90 million American adults failing to get at least seven hours.
This equates to close to a third of the population (35.2% of all adults) who are at greater risk of ill-health and disease as a result.
See also: Could a high-protein diet help you get a deeper sleep?
Which states have the highest rates of sleep deprivation?
While the 35.2% figure is the national average, the proportion of people getting at least seven hours’ kip actually varies greatly between states. Data from County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a joint program between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, shows how stark the difference can be.
Most sleep deprived states
1. Hawaii - Adults reporting insufficient sleep (<7 hours): 43.2%
2. West Virginia - Adults reporting insufficient sleep (<7 hours): 42.5%
3. Kentucky - Adults reporting insufficient sleep (<7 hours): 42.1%
4. Tennessee - Adults reporting insufficient sleep (<7 hours): 40.8%
5. Ohio - Adults reporting insufficient sleep (<7 hours): 40.6%
Least sleep deprived states
1. Minnesota - Adults reporting insufficient sleep (<7 hours): 29.1%
2. Colorado - Adults reporting insufficient sleep (<7 hours): 30.0%
=3. South Dakota - Adults reporting insufficient sleep (<7 hours): 30.1%
=3. Vermont - Adults reporting insufficient sleep (<7 hours): 30.1%
5. Montana - Adults reporting insufficient sleep (<7 hours): 30.9%
What are the risks of sleep deprivation?
Everyone is different and failing to get the required amount of sleep will affect people differently. But as a general rule getting good quality sleep is vital to keep your mind and body healthy.
Getting at least seven hours’ sleep a night has been shown to make your body better able to fight off sicknesses and remain at a healthy weight. The time you spend sleeping is crucial to allow your body to recovery from whatever stresses and strains might be affecting you, so not getting enough sleep makes injury and persistent illnesses more likely.
People who get the required amount of sleep are also less likely to suffer from serious long-term health issues, like diabetes and heart disease.
In terms of the mental benefits, a proper sleep routine has been shown to reduce stress and improve your mood. This will allow you to think more clearly, improving decision-making.