A quarter of Brits are getting by on just five hours of sleep a night – with pain, anxiety and needing the loo keeping them up. NHS guidelines state the typical adult needs between seven and nine hours of kip a night, but the average adult is falling short, getting just over six hours on average.
A poll of 4,000 adults has revealed the UK has a weekly deficit of over eight hours per person, equivalent to an entire night’s sleep per week. According to the survey, 44% describe themselves as ‘sleep deprived’ – rising to 54% of those with diagnosed health conditions.
The findings come from a study commissioned by the UK’s first medical cannabis clinic, Curaleaf Clinic, to raise awareness of the impact disrupted sleep can have, particularly among those living with chronic conditions. As 28% of those with a health condition said they would do “anything” for a good night’s rest.
Dr David Garley, a sleep expert, said: “One disturbed night can be enough to throw the body off balance. If poor sleep starts to accumulate, it can heighten emotional reactivity, reduce resilience and can leave the mind and body struggling to cope.
“It can lower pain thresholds, disrupt repair pathways and affect emotional regulation, with this risk heightened for those living with chronic pain or mental health conditions.”
For those who experience two weeks or more of poor sleep, 10% gain weight, 24% are overwhelmed by small tasks and 23% said their mental health takes a hit.
However, according to the research, adults living with diagnosed health conditions suffer more severe consequences, with nearly one in five finding their symptoms worsen (18%). Meanwhile, 21% say they fall ill more easily and 24% said their memory is impaired.
Not sure how your sleep stacks up? Take the Curaleaf Clinic Sleep Quiz to find out what your habits could be costing you.
Dr Simon Erridge, research director at the clinic, said: “Poor sleep is a daily struggle for too many people, and for those living with long-term health conditions, the impact can be especially severe.
“Lack of rest doesn’t just leave people tired – it can worsen symptoms, reduce emotional resilience and make everyday life much harder to manage.”
Many have turned to ‘sleep hacks’ like sleep sprays, natural sleeping pills or changing their mattresses or pillows, but found them to be ineffective, with 16% admitting to turning to alcohol.
Tom Evans, a patient at Curaleaf Clinic with ADHD said: “For years, poor sleep was just part of life. My medication helped with focus but made it even harder to sleep, and most nights I’d wake up three or four times. Sleep playlists and white noise only got me so far.” Since starting medical cannabis Tom says he “sleeps through the night”.
Dr Erridge added: “Emerging evidence shows that some patients prescribed medical cannabis report improvements in sleep quality, helping to break the cycle of disrupted rest and declining wellbeing.”
The number one cause for sleep difficulties was needing a visit to the bathroom (45%), followed by stress or anxiety (40%) and a poor sleep routine (22%).
Those who wake during sleep reportedly do so twice a night on average, with 2am to 3am the most common time for waking up.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
