If you have difficulty falling asleep or maintaining a restful one, you are definitely not alone.
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, many residents of the Great White North have issues with getting enough restful sleep, especially adults.
In total, people aged 18-64 should get 7-9 hours of sleep each night, while people aged 65 and above should aim for 7-8 hours, according to the health agency.
See also:
- Health experts say BC police have become ‘de facto’ part of mental health system (REPORT)
- Canadian Paediatric Society wants free birth control for youth under 25
However, 1 in 4 adults aged 18-34 admit to not getting enough sleep, while a whopping 1 in 3 adults aged 35-64 say that they are underslept each night.
Additionally, roughly 50% of Canadian adults say that they have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep, while 1 in 5 say they do not feel refreshed in the morning.
Besides being tired and less alert during regular waking hours, a lack of sleep can lead to a range of different health issues, warns the Canadian government.
In total, 36.3% of adults who are underslept reported being chronically stressed, while only 23.2% of adults who received an adequate amount of sleep reported similar feelings.
Meanwhile, the rate of “poor mental health” is more than twice as high in people who do not receive enough sleep, (12.3%) compared to those who are well slept (5.8%).
Tips for sleeping better
For those who are seeking a more restful nightly sleep, Health Canada has six easy-to-follow recommendations:
- Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine before bed
- Maintain a regular bedtime/waketime schedule
- Practice relaxation and mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques, like meditation
- Reduce noise in the sleeping environment
- Exercise regularly
- Review medications with your physician/pharmacist regularly
To find more tips or information on healthy sleep habits, visit the Canadian government’s website online here.
See also: Island Health offers advice on safer drug use ahead of festival season this summer
Are you getting enough quality #sleep? 1 in 3 Canadian adults aged 35-64 are not, which can impact their physical and #mentalhealth. Learn more about Canadian stats on sleep quality: https://t.co/tBTVwy1rEz 😴 pic.twitter.com/EcL1a40bRi
— Health Canada and PHAC (@GovCanHealth) July 30, 2019
