The Alarming Numbers Around Lack of Sleep

We’ve all heard it before: “Get a good night’s sleep!”

Yet, how many of us actually take that advice to heart? Sleep is not just a time to rest — it plays a critical role in your overall health, well-being, and performance.

Did you know that over one-third of American adults don’t get the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep each night? The CDC reports that 35% of U.S. adults sleep less than 7 hours on average. Even more concerning, 50-70 million Americans suffer from some form of sleep disorder, impacting their daily productivity, mood, and long-term health. This isn’t just a personal issue — it’s a national health crisis and the CDC now considers it a public health epidemic. Just like nutrition and physical activity, sleep is a crucial factor in maintaining overall well-being. Without it, people face a host of serious consequences, including a greater risk of heart disease, stroke, dementia, cancer, motor vehicle accidents (~100,000 US accidents each year are linked to drowsy driving) and productivity loss such as work errors and decreased performance, both in professional and personal settings.

Endocrinologists and cardiologists also see this as a major risk factor for obesity and diabetes. Less than 5 hours of sleep per night increase the chance of diabetes by 46% compared with those who sleep 7 hours or more. Up to 30% of our genes function (much related to metabolism – fat and sugar burning) according to our circadian rhythm cycle. Many of the hormones the body needs to repair itself are released during sleep, with the deepest and most regenerative sleep occurring between 10PM and 2AM.