Stress about work and finances ranked higher than
technology as sleep disrupter in 8,000-person survey; More than 80
percent of respondents see opportunity to improve
sleep
ANDOVER, Mass., March 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal
Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) today released "Sleep: A Global
Perspective," the first in a series of reports highlighting sleep
trends and habits collected from a survey of nearly 8,000 people
across 10 countries. Released in support of the World Association
of Sleep Medicine's annual World Sleep Day, the report revealed
that worry about work, finances and the economy was the leading
factor impacting sleep. In addition, while sleep is recognized
globally as important to health and well-being, most people are not
taking any steps to improve it.
"Over the past few years, many surveys have focused on the
negative impact that technology and mobile devices can have on
sleep, but our report confirmed that the global factors impacting
people's sleep are much more varied and complex," said Dr.
Teofilo Lee-Chiong, M.D., Chief
Medical Liaison, Philips. "And, while it's refreshing to see people
around the world equally valuing sleep as critical to their overall
health, there's clearly more that people can be doing to ensure
they're on a path to a better night's sleep."
People want more sleep, but don't know how to get
it
Of the 7,817 people surveyed in the
United States, Brazil, the
UK, France, the Netherlands, Germany, China, Japan,
South Korea, and Australia, 96 percent said sleep is valuable
to them. At the same time, 57 percent of respondents admitted that
while their sleep could be better, they haven't taken action to
improve it. And, only 17 percent consistently sleep through the
night, with 22 percent of respondents noting they wake up before
they would like five to seven nights a week.
In addition, six percent of respondents reported having
obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This is consistent with other
reports indicating that more than 100 million people globally
suffer from this disorder. Because an estimated 80 percent of
patients with OSA remain undiagnosed, a substantial number of
people may benefit from proper screening, diagnosis and treatment
of sleep apnea.
The economy's impact on sleep
Among a list of 12 different factors influencing overall health
and well-being – including family, work, school, social life and
intimacy with a partner – sleep ranked the highest, at 87 percent.
But right behind it at 84 percent was money/financial security.
Additionally, among a list of 13 factors keeping people up at
night, respondents selected work (25%) and financial/economic
issues (28%) as their most common sleep disruptors. While 67
percent of people around the world sleep with a mobile phone within
reach, only 21 percent said technology was a sleep disruptor.
"Our report indicates how psychological factors can impact
sleep, and how those factors can change depending on the times in
which we live," said Dr. Mark Aloia,
Senior Director of Global Clinical Research, Philips. "Combating
stress is critical to a good night's sleep, but the toughest part
for people is often just getting motivated to make changes. These
data further demonstrate that sleep needs to be viewed and treated
holistically, with both technology and lifestyle solutions that
work together to promote better health."
Of the countries most worried about work, South Korea (43%), Brazil (33%) and China (32%) ranked the highest. Of those most
worried about economic/financial issues, Brazil (39%), Germany (31%) and the U.S. (31%) topped the
list. Download the full "Sleep: A Global Perspective" report and
supporting infographics at www.sleepapnea.com.
Philips issues global challenge to improve
sleep
The first step to better rest is investigating your risk of an
underlying sleep disorder. A significant percentage of the global
population is estimated to suffer from disrupted sleep, and sleep
apnea is one of the most common of sleep disorders that is often
undiagnosed. Find out if you may be at risk by taking the
sleep apnea symptoms quiz.
In addition to addressing potential sleep disorders, it is
important to embrace behaviors that can improve your sleep. Life's
stressors can keep anyone up at night, but small changes can offset
stress triggers and prepare your body for the rest it needs.
Throughout the week leading up to World Sleep Day, March 9-13, Philips issued a global five-day
#BeWellSleepWell challenge to empower people to take back control
of their sleep and overall health. Philips encouraged people to
make one small lifestyle change each day for five days to improve
their sleep and well-being.
See how your sleep compares to those around the world and learn
tips for getting better rest by following the #BeWellSleepWell
conversation on Twitter: @PhilipsHealth and @PhilipsResp, and
Facebook: Philips Health and Philips Respironics.
For further information, please contact:
Kathy O'Reilly
Philips
Tel: +1 978-659-2638
Mobile: +1 978-221-8919
Email: kathy.oreilly@philips.com
Twitter: @kathyoreilly
Alicia Cafardi
Philips
724-387-4439
alicia.cafardi@philips.com
About Royal Philips
Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX:
PHIA) is a diversified health and well-being company, focused on
improving people's lives through meaningful innovation in the areas
of Healthcare, Consumer Lifestyle and Lighting. Headquartered in
the Netherlands, Philips posted
2014 sales of EUR 21.4 billion and
employs approximately 105,000 employees with sales and services in
more than 100 countries. The company is a leader in cardiac care,
acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions
and new lighting applications, as well as male shaving and grooming
and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at
www.philips.com/newscenter.
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SOURCE Royal Philips