COLUMBUS, Ohio – A new national survey by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center finds many Americans are losing sleep over stress and worry about the current state of the world. After a global pandemic, polarizing political division and more than two years of turbulent events, nearly one in five survey respondents report struggling to fall asleep at night.
“Here at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, there was a 29% increase in referrals for insomnia from 2018 to 2021,” said Dr. Aneesa Das, professor of internal medicine. “Stress can increase your heart rate, increase your blood pressure, make you have an upset stomach and cause muscle tension. All of those things increase our alertness, making it harder to fall asleep.”
The survey also found many Americans try to mitigate sleep issues by using habits that may be detrimental to a good night’s sleep. Nearly half of Americans say they scroll their phones right before bed and 37% fall asleep with the TV on.
“Our circadian drive is that central clock telling us when we're supposed to be awake and asleep, and that is driven by light more than anything,” said Das. “When we use our smartphones and our TVs right before bed, we increase that bright light exposure at the wrong time.”
Instead, Das suggests increasing natural light exposure by getting outside during the day as much as possible. Once the sun sets, limiting light exposure is essential to obtaining better sleep. Also, consistent exercise during the week is key to helping your body get on an optimal sleep routine.
Other simple behavioral adjustments that can help improve sleep patterns include:
If you’re unable to improve your sleep, experts recommend speaking with your primary care physician as a first step. They can help determine if additional methods, like sleep restriction, may be beneficial or if the insomnia could be a symptom of an underlying health condition.
This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center July 21-25, 2022 and surveyed 2,040 U.S. adults ages 18 and older. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within + 2.8 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact: Mary.Fiorino@osumc.edu.
Media Contact: Mary Ellen Fiorino, Wexner Medical Center Media Relations, Mary.Fiorino@osumc.edu
Subscribe. Get tips from Ohio State experts right to your inbox.
By clicking "Subscribe" you agree to our Terms of Use.
We'll be in touch every so often with health tips, patient stories, important resources and other information you need to keep you and your family healthy. Welcome to our online community here at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center!
Copyright © 2022 The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
If you have a disability and experience difficulty accessing this content, contact our webmaster at webmaster@osumc.edu.