Report card on Canadian sleep habits says we’re failing miserably…

If you’re hanging out on Facebook or Twitter when you should be sleeping, you’re in good company – especially if you’re Canadian. According to an Ipsos Reid poll, 23% of Canadians are spending their nighttimes fretting over their financial future instead of sleeping.

The poll is reported in the Canadian Medical Association’s (CMA) annual National Report Card on Health Care in Canada. And the news isn’t good.

More than half of those surveyed worry about their financial security and their health as a result of their stress. Some respondents admit to skipping meals, elective surgery and visits to the dentist because they worry about losing their job.

“This year, the CMA’s report card shows that these tough economic times could also be a serious health hazard for Canadians,” Robert Ouellet, the organization’s president, said in a news release.

What’s worrisome is the effect stress and lack of sleep will have after the economic crisis has passed. Statistically, people who sleep less are on a fast track to a tragic ending.

• The Federal Highway Administration (US) says sleepy drivers cause more than 50,000 accidents and 1,500 traffic fatalities each year.
• According to National Center on Sleep Disorders, sleeping 6 hours a night boosts your obesity risk by 23%. Sleeping 4 hrs or less rockets your risk by 73%.
• Between 2000 and 2004, the number of people who use sleeping pills (even occasionally) doubled.
• Profits from stay-awake, high-caffeine drinks exceed all other soft drinks – combined.
• Caffeine levels in a Starbucks coffee is double than your grocery store’s leading brand – Folgers.

Sleep may be a very intimate and private activity but lack of sleep is a very public concern.

Natura can’t erase your financial worries, but we can make it easier for you to make healthy bedding choices that don’t cost a fortune. We believe everyone deserves a healthy, natural sleep – no exceptions. If you have questions, we’re eager to help.

You can reach us on Facebook, Twitter and, of course, by contacting our Customer Service team online.

Is the economic crisis affecting your sleep habits?