Long commutes, too many flat whites and not enough sleep at night, researchers claim up to 40 per cent of Aussies are suffering from lack of sleep.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
A new SBS TV series will premiere on Wednesday to address the insomnia that is affecting Australian adults.
In the three-part series Australia's Sleep Revolution with Dr Michael Mosley, researchers from Flinders University in Adelaide found the majority of people are going to work sleep deprived.
Whether this is due to long commutes, shift work, school pick-ups or trying to make up for lost time with family, researchers believe it is an epidemic that will become an imminent public health issue.
Flinders University professor Danny Eckert told AAP that poor sleeping practices conservatively cost Australia $66 billion.
Fears of this impacting the labour market makes it a grave public health issue, he says.
Prof Eckert argues this may because of social jetlag, a condition where people have inconsistent sleeping schedules due to disparities from their weekdays and weekends commitments.
While weekdays are commonly for work, many people spend weekends for leisure, throwing their sleep off balance.
The recommended amount of sleep is seven to nine hours daily, but many are falling short due to chronic difficulties such as insomnia and sleep aponea.
The inability to maintain a sufficient sleeping pattern has been linked to hypertension, obesity, heart disease and other health issues.
Sleep is known to be one of the three pillars for good health, but science proves it is one of the most neglected.
While the other two - exercise and nutrition - can be compensated through medication and day-to-day tasks, that is not the case for sleep.
The university researchers are adamant they can provide Aussies with the helpful strategies needed to keep their sleep on track, so they aren't snoozing on their work desks.
In the series, Dr Mosley examines the nation's poorest sleepers as they put their bodies on the line to trial a pioneering eight-week treatment program.
Father and stand-up comedian Jon Brooks, was a participant for the short series.
Mr Brooks was suffering from chronic sleep aponea, causing regular sleep disruptions.
''People definitely need to start prioritising their sleep, if you think you have any sleeping disorders definitely speak to your GP," he said.
Mr Brooks underwent cognitive behavioural therapy to treat his sleep disorder.
''I chose to get involved in the program because I was desperate, I was shocked at how simple but effective my treatment was," he said.
''Parenthood and stand-up comedy don't make up for good sleeping habits."
He went from getting frequently interrupted sleep to getting the average seven-plus hours a night, which has helped him significantly with work and parenting.
"Given what we know about the importance of sleep to health, we also need to assist people to resolve chronic sleep difficulties and encourage all people to make sleep a priority,'' Prof Eckert said.
"Based on these findings, public health and advocacy efforts need to support the community and individuals to achieve more regular sleep within the recommended range for their age."
By shining a light on the poor sleep health of Australia's biggest decision makers, the university's researchers hope to put sleep health back on the national political agenda.
BETTER SLEEP TIPS:
* Avoid heavy meals before going to bed
* Avoid or reduce the intake of caffeine and alcohol
* Time the length of your sleep
* Keep a consistent sleep schedule
* Exercise regularly
* Limit napping
Australian Associated Press
