A quarter of Britons are surviving on just five hours of sleep per night, with pain, anxiety and toilet trips keeping them awake, according to a new survey. NHS guidelines recommend adults get between seven and nine hours of sleep nightly, but most are managing only just over six hours on average.
The survey of 4,000 adults revealed that the UK has a weekly shortfall of more than eight hours per person — the equivalent of a full night's sleep every week. Some 44% of respondents described themselves as 'sleep deprived', rising to 54% among those with diagnosed health conditions.
The research, commissioned by the Curaleaf Clinic, the UK's first medical cannabis clinic, aimed to highlight the impact of disrupted sleep, particularly for those with chronic conditions. Nearly one in five adults with a health condition said their symptoms worsen due to poor sleep, while 21% reported falling ill more frequently and 24% said their memory was impaired.
Dr Simon Erridge, research director at the clinic, said: 'Poor sleep is a daily struggle for too many people, and for those living with long-term health conditions, the impact can be especially severe.' Many have turned to 'sleep hacks' such as sprays, natural pills or new mattresses, but 16% admitted to using alcohol to help them sleep.
The most common causes of sleep difficulties were needing to use the bathroom (45%), stress or anxiety (40%) and a poor sleep routine (22%). Those who wake during the night do so twice on average, with the period between 2am and 3am being the most common time for disturbance.
