A third of Australians have said their quality of sleep has declined in the past year because of financial pressure, a ResMed global survey has found.
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The results have been announced on World Sleep Day (March 17, 2023)
Only 10 per cent of people in Australia wake up feeling refreshed and half said stress had been affecting their sleep since the pandemic started.
While the recommended amount of sleep is seven to nine hours, Australians are averaging 6.9, which is less than almost all the other countries survey except Japan (6.5 hours) and the UK (6.8 hours).
Sleep Health Foundation Dr Moira Junge said sleep is an essential pillar of health alongside diet and exercise.
"While we sleep many important functions take place that help the body to repair itself. Sleep also supports brain function and improves memory and mood. We urge the community and the government to take sleep seriously," she said.
Lack of sleep and disrupted sleep can have serious short-term consequences on physical and mental health, including increased stress, reduced quality of life, emotional distress, mood swings, a decrease in cognitive memory and performance.
Millions of Australians who experience poor sleep also experience health issues as a result of poor sleep night after night. Long-term effects of sleep loss and sleep disorders like obstructive sleep apnea have been associated with a wide range of health consequences including an increased risk of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, depression, heart attack, and stroke.
ResMed sleep physiologist Tim Stephenson said healthcare begins with self-care.
The public can take an online sleep assessment here.
