New research carried out by the bed expert, Adjustamatic, highlights just how poorly the nation is sleeping.
The nationwide survey found 4 in 5 Brits wake up feeling less than refreshed, and a staggering 1 in 3 wake up experiencing pain.
No surprise then that a fifth of the nation sleeps with painkillers and sleeping tablets on their bedside table.
The top culprits for keeping Brits awake at night are revealed to be:
- Stress and tension
- Unable to get comfortable
- Restless and achy legs
- Back pain
- Coughing or breathing difficulties
Our Sleep Environment
When it comes to our bedroom environment, aside from snoring partners, an uncomfortable mattress and too small a bed make for a poor quality sleeping environment.
“Creating the correct sleeping environment can significantly improve the quality of sleep and our overall wellbeing,” explains sleep expert and physiotherapist Sammy Margo.
“Waking up in pain is a common experience yet people persist with the same old bed and same old painkillers. A good bed and a good mattress can significantly improve how well we sleep and reduce pain.”
Britain’s Bedside Secrets
The new research from Adjustamatic also provides insight into the nations bedside secrets. The research looked specifically at what people kept on their bedside tables - 40% of us go to bed with a glass of water, a third go to bed with their phone next to their head and a saucy 16% keep lubricant and birth control to hand, with the research revealing that women are just as likely as men to keep condoms close by.
Sleep and Aging
The older we get the more likely we are to sleep naked according to the new research with 1 in 3 people over the age of 55 reporting to sleep in the buff. 18-24 year olds are almost twice as likely to wear pyjamas compared with older sleepers, with half of the younger age group claiming to wear PJ’s. The older age group were also shown to be suffering in silence when it came to how well they sleep, with a third putting up with restless legs and back pain, and a quarter waking up feeling more tired than they did before going to bed.
“As we age our bodies naturally require less sleep, however many of us are still not getting enough!” Says sleep expert Sammy Margo. “Sleep problems like insomnia can become more common as we age, along with health problems such as arthritis, poor circulation, back ache, restless legs, diabetes and the symptoms associated with the condition and breathing problems, all of which can hinder a good night’s sleep. Many people struggle for years with poor sleep when they needn’t have to.”
The research highlights that women suffer more than men when it comes to getting a good night’s sleep, with women blaming stress and tension as a reason behind a disturbed nights sleep. However, although the quality of sleep is poorer for women, the research found men are much more likely to wake up with physical pain and experience night cramps, back ache, pins and needles and restless legs.
www.sleepyourbest.co.uk
Femalefirst Taryn Davies
Tagged in Health Sleep Sleeping Tips