Thaindian News

London, May 28 (IANS) Britons have lost almost an hour’s sleep a night during the global recession, a new study has revealed.
On an average, a Briton gets only six hours and 21 minutes to sleep which is almost an hour less than two years ago. Stress and worry are keeping the country awake at night and millions are getting less than the recommended eight hours they need to feel refreshed.

The shortfall in sleeping hour is estimated to be costing employers around 1 billion pound per year because 28 percent of workers take a day off following a bad night’s sleep. This account for eight million sick days a year compared with just more than three million in 2008, The Telegraph reported.

More than half of the respondents (56 per cent) said they felt like having a bad hangover when they have not had enough sleep and 45 percent said it takes a couple of days to recover.

The research, based on the sleep patterns of 6,000 adults, also revealed that 54 percent of adults blame a lack of sleep for their inability to concentrate at work.

A third of those surveyed said they find it difficult to concentrate driving to and from work after a bad night’s sleep and seven out 10 adults admitted they are a “horrible person” to be around when they have not had enough sleep and difficult to work with.

The study found a quarter of adults take a catnap at work, with 16 percent dozing at their desk and 10 percent retreating to the lavatories for forty winks.

The observation rated top three causes of sleep deprivation — money worries (38 percent), work-related stress (25 percent) and noisy family members or neighbours (23 percent).

“This research highlights that sleep deprivation is a growing problem in the UK. It’s worrying to see the sleep debt and the number of sick days taken off due to sleep restriction has doubled in two years,” said Stevie Williams, from the Edinburgh Sleep Centre.

“Although we are coming out of recession Brits are still worried about money and work issues, which is fuelling this sleep disorder. It’s a vicious circle, although adults may fret about their job and have financial worries they cannot afford to sacrifice their sleep quota,” Williams was quoted as saying.