Vancouver is home to some of the most sleep-deprived Canadians, according to an IPG Mediabrands/Sleep-Centre.ca study released June 8.
Almost three-quarters – 72% – of this city’s residents report suffering from occasional or frequent sleeplessness, tying us with Saskatoon for second place.
The most sleep-deprived city in Canada: Kitchener/Waterloo, at 76%. The Canadian average is 62%.
“Surprisingly, but perhaps not to some, Toronto enjoys the best sleep in the country," said Chris Herlihey, vice-president research at IPG.
Only 47% of Torontonians report having trouble sleeping.
“The cities topping the list have a higher percentage of kids living at home versus Toronto, which has more singles compared to the rest of the country.”
Just what is keeping Canadians from getting their rest? The number one reason cited for sleeplessness was pain, at 46%. This was followed by the temperature in the room (31%) and work stress (29%). Illness, too much caffeine, indigestion or a partner’s snoring were also listed.
Respondents reported falling asleep in some strange places due to exhaustion caused by sleep deprivation. Almost three-quarters said they regularly fall asleep on public transit or during classes. One-in-six said they sometimes fall asleep at work. Others have fallen asleep at the movies, during plays or at places of worship. Some respondents even said they have nodded off at a party.
Six per cent report having fallen asleep while driving.
Herlihey said sleep deprivation is a serious problem.
“Sleeplessness is impacting people physically and they’re looking to catch up on sleep whenever they can, even if it means calling in sick for some rest,” Herlihey said.
The study found that 3.9 million Canadians – a full 26% of the country’s workforce – have called in sick to catch up on sleep.
“Taking into account those sick days, sleep deprivation has cost companies almost three-quarters of a billion dollars in lost man hours,” IPG said.
There are some gadgets on the market that offer some novel ways to promote sleep, according to Sleep-Centre.ca. Some examples are masks with glowing points of light and pillows with speakers in them to allow users to listen to relaxing music
There are also some free apps available that can provide white noise to promote relaxation, which can help you drift off.
