A new study shows almost one in five workers admit they aren’t getting a good night’s sleep. However, only one in ten have been properly diagnosed with a sleep disorder.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) analyzed data from the Georgia Study of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, in which 6,530 randomly selected adults were interviewed. Sixteen percent of Georgia’s residents experience persistent problems staying awake during the day. However, only 10% of the people in the study reported having been diagnosed with a sleep disorder.
The study also found:
- 35% wake up in the morning feeling unrefreshed
- 31% can’t sleep through the night, and
- 25% complain they have problems falling asleep.
Study author, Michael Decker, notes people who don’t get enough sleep, or have poor quality sleep, present hazards in their jobs and on the roads.
His suggestion: Educate workers about the symptoms of sleep disorders and prompt them to seek appropriate medical care.
The CDC has a new Web site with information about sleep disorders. The study can be found online here.