Saturday, December 17, 2011

Is Not Enough Sleep Hurting African Americans?


According to a 2010 National Sleep Foundation study, blacks reported the least amount of sleep and the busiest bedtime routines. The study found that 17 percent of African Americans are more likely than whites (9 percent) and Hispanics (13 percent) to do job-related work in the hour before bed. Additionally, blacks reported losing sleep every night over financial and employment concerns at a higher rate than whites. However, blacks said they need less sleep in comparison to whites, Hispanics and Asians to perform at their best during the day.
"The finding that blacks/African Americans say the need less sleep and get less sleep is instructive for public health professionals," said Jose S. Loredo, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Diego. "Their total sleep time and attitudes regarding sleep may be associated with...higher rates of sleep apnea, hypertension and diabetes and provide sleep-related insight into how to improve awareness and education programs and, very importantly, how to improve therapy compliance rates."

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