Sleeping time and health: Austrians really need that much sleep!

Sleeping time and health: Austrians really need that much sleep!

Current research results show a direct connection between the duration of sleep and the health of people. A study of Canadian scientists published 14 older studies from 71 countries in the journal "PNAS", and interviewed around 5,000 people from 20 countries about their sleeping habits and their effects on health. The results make it clear that people who meet the national sleep standard tend to be healthier. In Austria, the average sleeping time is between 7 and 8 hours a night. It is particularly interesting that countries like Japan with an average sleeping time of only 6 hours and 18 minutes or France, where people sleep around 7 hours and 52 minutes, have no significant health disadvantages compared to countries with longer sleep times. Problems found; However, this new investigation does not show a clear connection between the duration of sleep and health.

The analysis also showed that shorter sleep times do not necessarily correlate with a higher rate of chronic diseases such as heart diseases or diabetes. Life expectancy also does not seem to be significantly lower in countries with a shortened sleep. On the contrary, some of these countries, especially those with a shorter sleeping time, even have lower obesity rates, which leads to the assumption that cultural aspects play a crucial role.

cultural influences on sleeping habits

The optimal sleep duration varies greatly depending on the cultural norms and is often between seven and eight hours in western countries. This is also supported by The press that determines that this national sleep standard is closely related to the health feeling of the people. Already in the Middle Ages it was common in Europe to divide the night sleep into two phases, while a continuous sleep of eight hours is sought in modern societies. In many cultures, such as in Spain and Greece, the Siesta is an integral part of everyday life, while this is less common in northern realms.

The factors that affect sleep quality also include technological developments and social requirements. Digital devices that have extended screen times inhibit melatonin production, which can lead to difficulty sleep. As Sleeplab emphasizes, irregular working hours and pressure to perform can also lead to sleep is often sacrificed in favor of work and social life. These permanent changes in sleep habits lead to the increasing perception of chronic fatigue as a common disease.

In order to promote a healthy sleeping culture, experts emphasize the need for regular bedtime and the optimization of the sleeping environment. Factors such as darkness, pleasant temperatures and comfortable mattresses are crucial for sleep quality. In addition, conscious sleep hygiene that includes stress management and healthy eating habits is essential to sustainably improve sleep quality.