Lack of sleep spoils our work and fun

Our world increasingly 'never goes to sleep.' KATHERINE HOBY lists the implications.

Most of us need seven to eight hours' sleep a night.

But researchers estimate that up to half a million New Zealanders have chronic sleep disorders.

Without regular sleep, our health - both mental and physical - can suffer. If sleep is interrupted, insufficient or unsatisfactory, the tiredness caused can prompt depression and irritability. It can also dramatically lower the libido.

Recent research has led to growing recognition that inadequate sleep is a serious public health issue.

It is not known how many New Zealanders suffer from sleep disorders but as well as the possible 500,000 people with a chronic problem, a further 350,000 have intermittent problems sleeping.

In a modern, work-driven society, the pressure is on to expand activities at the expense of sleep.

The unstoppable move to continuous operation in many areas of human activity means more and more people are involved in shiftwork.

Sleep loss and increased risk of human error are inevitable in shiftwork, which runs counter to our biological clock for sleep at night and activity during the day.

A survey by the National Sleep Foundation in the United States showed 63 per cent of adults did not have the recommended eight hours of sleep needed for good health, safety and optimum performance.



Work by the University of Bergen in Norway suggests sleep deprivation not only causes a productivity loss at work of up to 30 per cent, but a significant deterioration in the quality of personal life.

One reason some people cannot sleep is their diet.

Starchy foods, such as pasta, rice, polenta, potatoes and bread, encourage the body to produce sleep-producing hormones.

Eating fatty, fried and sugary foods, or drinking hot chocolate or coffee late at night may result in sleep-disrupting hormonal swings and indigestion.

But if you go to bed without eating at all, you will often wake up feeling exhausted and fuzzy-headed.

It is equally important not to eat too much too late in the evening, because not only will you be prone to sleep-disturbing indigestion, you will have a heavy or bloated stomach in the morning.

Opinions differ on a milky drink before retiring. Some say it prompts the gut to produce excess acid.

- Additional reporting: Jane Clarke, London