A new survey suggests many Canadians are not getting enough sleep. The national survey by Leger, conducted on 1,570 adult Canadians between Jan. 30 and Feb.1, found 41 per cent of those surveyed are getting less than seven hours of sleep per night. That number jumps to 52 per cent in Atlantic Canada. Dr. David Greenberg, a primary care physician with an interest in sleep, says sleep is foundational to physical health and mental clarity. He adds it impacts the ability to think clearly and participate fully in life. “People who struggle with sleep often push through their daily activities despite feeling persistently fatigued, simply because they feel they have no choice,” said Greenberg in a news release. “But that fatigue is a clear signal from the body that it isn’t getting the restorative sleep it needs. Unfortunately, many Canadians have come to accept that level of exhaustion as normal. It isn’t.” Greenberg calls it sleep debt – the gap between how much sleep your body needs compared to how much you actually get. According to the survey, among Canadians living with sleep debt, 57 per cent struggle to fall asleep and 71 per cent report difficulty staying asleep. Nearly 65 per cent of those who reported seven or more hours of sleep also said they struggle with falling or staying asleep. Psychologist Dr. Simon Sherry recommends regular habits and sleep schedules. “A good first step for many of us would be regulating our routine, picking a consistent bedtime and a consistent waking time and sticking to that. Recognizing how important sleep is in both the short and long term,” says Sherry. Daylight time Daylight time begins on Sunday at 2 a.m., with clocks moving forward one hour. The survey suggests 39 per cent of Canadians experience tiredness and fatigue and 23 per cent report lowered productivity as a result of the time change. “More concerning, 18% of Canadians admit they have driven while feeling unsafe after losing an hour of sleep due to DST, a number that climbs to 23% among those living with sleep debt,” reads the release. Greenberg says, while daylight time often spurs conversation around sleep, it is a year-round challenge that deserves more attention. “While many people turn to short-term fixes, persistent sleep difficulties often benefit from guidance from a healthcare provider,” says Greenberg. “If your sleep challenges aren’t tied to temporary life circumstances like caring for a newborn, a new pet like a puppy, or shift work, it’s important to speak with a healthcare professional about strategies and treatment options that can help optimize sleep and the many health and quality-of-life benefits it provides.”
