Sleep Awareness Week Flash: African Americans Don't Get Enough Sleep. Here's How to Get More.
Good Night (and Good Luck!)
by Seni George
African Americans aren’t getting enough sleep. Here’s how to score some shut-eyeDo
you find yourself hitting the snooze button every morning or dragging
yourself out of bed? A recent study may explain why. Researchers at the
University of Chicago recorded the sleeping habits of 669 participants
and found that while white women slept, on average, 6.7 hours a night
and white men 6.1 hours, black women sawed logs for only 5.9 hours and
black men for 5.1, the least of all involved in the study. Not only did
black participants have a harder time falling asleep, they didn’t sleep
as deeply.
Researchers suspect that money may be a factor.
More than 60% of the white enrollees earned at least $75,000, compared
with only 24% of their black counterparts, perhaps providing wealthier
sleepers with a more relaxing environment and fewer worries. Black men
were also more likely to drink alcohol, which leads to lighter, more
disrupted slumber.
A good night’s rest not only assures you’ll
be alert at morning meetings; it restores the body and lowers the risk
of diabetes, obesity and hypertension. Insomniacs are also at greater
risk of developing mental health problems, including depression and
substance abuse.
Many people turn to prescription or
over-the-counter sleep medications when they have trouble catching Z’s.
According to the American Insomnia Association, sleep meds are
generally not dangerous if they are taken as directed. Still, they can
have side effects, such as drowsiness or dry mouth, and they carry the
risk of dependency.
Simple lifestyle changes can help you
sleep better. The National Sleep Foundation suggests scheduling a
regular bedtime and wake time; sleeping on a comfortable mattress;
eliminating bedroom distractions, such as TV; finishing meals at least
two to three hours before bedtime; and refraining from alcohol,
caffeine and nicotine before bed. If you still don’t feel rested, seek
professional help; insomnia can signal an underlying illness. Not all
docs are well schooled on sleep, though; if your family physician can’t
help you, seek a specialist. Visit www.sleepcenters.org to find a sleep
center near you.
