We’re Still Running on a Deficit
Report by: Melanie
S. Read, Managing Editor
Off
and on, for years, we’ve all heard that we are trying to
function on too little sleep. Teenagers are on the
phone, on the computer and listening to music instead of
going to bed on time and getting a full night’s sleep.
College students are notorious for burning the midnight
oil, then partying till the wee hours. After a full
night, they fall asleep in class. Some of them fall
asleep behind the wheel. Adults come home from work and
work some more, then fall into a fitful sleep, populated
by the unsolved problems of the day and a variety of
stress factors that are common to modern life. Older
adults suffer from insomnia and a host of medical
conditions associated with aging. Many of these impact
the quality of their sleep. None of these make for
restful sleep. And a lack of restful sleep can make for
a very unhealthy life.
In its studies, the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) has
found that a sleep deficit can mean more than just
feeling drowsy. It can be a health risk. The most
immediate and deadliest risk is driving when drowsy.
Yet, the NSF reports that 15% of people polled admit to
driving while sleepy at least once a week. Sleepiness
can contribute to slow reaction time and impaired
ability. This problem is evidenced in other areas
besides driving; at work, operating heavy machinery or
performing fine, dexterous tasks, a person who is sleep
deprived will be more prone to accidents than someone
who is fully rested.
Many bedding and accessory manufacturers are recognizing
this problem and addressing it in new ways. Pressure
sensing and individualized pressure point mapping are
tools to direct consumers in their bedding purchases.
These new computerized programs help the salesperson to
qualify the buyer’s individual needs and match them with
a mattress and pillow based on their personal body
alignment and pressure points. As the National Sleep
Foundation has pointed out, comfort and alignment are
the key ingredients to a good night’s sleep.
While many of us diminish the health effects of a poor
mattress or an old pillow, the effects are real and they
are silently contributing to poor health and aging. A
salesperson with an extensive knowledge of the bedding
products on the showroom floor can aid the consumer in
making the right choice for a healthful night’s sleep.
The mattress is only the first step in that right
choice: the proper pillow, which aligns the body
correctly, linens that are comfortable and fit the
mattress correctly, and a hypo-allergenic atmosphere
will all contribute to a restful night. And that, in
turn, will contribute to a healthy life.
Dealers interested in receiving more information on the
issue of Sleep Deficit or joining the NSF should
contact:
Ron Sears at
202-347-3471, ext. 207
rsears@sleepfoundation.org |
