Tired of hearing that more than a third of U.S. adults don't get enough sleep? Here's something new: a government report about which states get the most sack time.
Only 64 percent of Illinois residents get seven hours of sleep, according to a new round of national survey data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Thursday.
South Dakota has the largest proportion of residents who get at least seven hours of sleep each night, according to the CDC. Hawaii — often thought of as a peaceful vacation spot — has the lowest proportion.
Here's the lowdown:
THE PROBLEM
For adults, the recommended amount of sleep is seven to nine hours each night. Past studies have found that more than one-third of U.S. adults get less. Some of those people — nearly 10 percent of Americans, by some estimates — suffer chronic insomnia and may seek a physician's help. Inadequate sleep has been tied to the start and worsening of a range of diseases and conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, obesity and depression.
MARITAL STATUS
Local
The CDC found 67 percent of married people got seven hours of sleep each night, while only 62 percent of people who had never been married and 55 percent of people who were divorved, widowed or seperated.
EMPLOYMENT STATUS
About 60 percent of employed people on average get seven hours each night, close to the 60 percent of unemployed that reported the same. But those who are unable to work got significantly less sleep, with only 51 percent reporting a healthy amount.
EDUCATION LEVEL
A little more than 71 percent of college graduates get seven hours of sleep during a 24-hour period, where anything less dropped down to 62 percent.
AGE
- 18 - 24: 68% reported getting at least seven hours per night
- 25 - 44: 62%
- 45 - 64: 63%
- 65 and up: 74%
THE STATES
The latest CDC report, based on surveys of more 444,000 adults in 2014, for the first time offers a look at findings in all 50 states. The Great Plains states led the nation in healthy sleep, buoyed by South Dakota, where 72 percent of those surveyed said they averaged at least 7 hours nightly.
The South and Appalachian states got the least sleep as a region. But Hawaii was the worst individual state, where 56 percent of respondents got the recommended amount of sleep. The report also found that while two-thirds of white people nationally got enough sleep, only about half of blacks, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders did.
THE RECOMMENDATION
The report didn't dig into why certain states or racial groups got less sleep than others. Experts believe several factors could be involved. For example, people with steady jobs and normal work hours tend to get more sleep than others. Smoking and health problems also can rob people of sleep, said the CDC's Anne Wheaton, one of the report's authors.
Doctors offer tips for good sleeping that include sticking to a regular bedtime schedule, getting exercise each day and avoiding caffeine and nicotine at night.
The most sleep-deprived states are:
1. Hawaii
2. Kentucky
3. Maryland
4. Alabama
5. Georgia and Michigan (tied)
6. Indiana and South Carolina (tied)
7. New York and West Virginia (tied)
8. Ohio
9. Delaware
10. Pennsylvania
For a full list of the CDC stats, go here.
