A quarter of Brits only get five hours of sleep a night

A recent survey conducted by the University of Leeds shows that a quarter of the UK’s workforce is only getting five hours of sleep or less every night. Psychologists say this striking figure is a result of the growing pressures of work and family life.

The research, which was funded by Silentnight beds, asked 1,024 UK residents between the ages of 18 and 80 how many hours a night they sleep. Despite only 3% of 30 to 50-year-olds saying they planned to get more than five hours, almost 25% reported getting less than that.

Interestingly, 42% of respondents said they find their jobs stressful, while 30% believe their work negatively affects their sleep pattern. More than a fifth said they work more than 40 hours a week.

Lack of sleep has been linked to anxiety, depression, diabetes, heart disease, impaired work performance and an increased risk of accidents. Lead scientist Dr Anna Weighall says it can also have other serious side effects.

Weighall believes the increasing demands of modern life, such as social media and being constantly connected through technology, effects the quality and amount of sleep. This poses a huge threat to health.

Read the original article at bit.ly/1W3EuEE