April 8, 2024 13:59 (Japan time)
Quality sleep is essential for maintaining a healthy mind and body. In addition to individuals improving their lifestyle habits, companies and schools also need to make efforts to ensure quality sleep.
According to a survey by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, 40% of people over the age of 20 sleep less than 6 hours, which is insufficient. This is believed to be due to the fact that in addition to the time spent at work, people use smartphones or play video games before bed.
Lack of sleep can lead to diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's White Paper on Death from Overwork warns that sleep deprivation increases the risk of depression.
However, the amount of sleep you need varies depending on your age and amount of activity during the day.
The ministry has revised its health-promoting sleep guidelines, setting out the recommended amount of time for each age group. Adults need at least 6 hours of sleep, elementary school students need 9 to 12 hours of sleep, and middle school and high school students need 8 to 10 hours of sleep.
The guidelines say older people don't need a lot of sleep and should be careful not to stay in bed for more than eight hours unless they have a health problem.
Also, if you sleep late on holidays to make up for lack of sleep on weekdays, your daily rhythm may be disrupted and your health may be harmed.
The government should make efforts to inform the public about things to be careful about when it comes to sleep and health.
Sleep problems can lead to decreased work efficiency and accidents. Companies should also consider improving the quality of their employees' sleep.
Some companies are using sleep management apps to help improve the health of their employees. Appropriate naps can improve work efficiency, so some companies are creating special nap spaces within their companies. Each company should devise ways to promote initiatives.
In recent years, the market for sleep-related products has expanded. Many products have been released, including bedding that supports a good night's sleep and devices that measure sleep quality, demonstrating the high degree of public interest in this topic.
As an individual initiative, reviewing your lifestyle habits is also effective. For example, you should take a bath 1 to 2 hours before bedtime, and avoid nightcaps and excessive caffeine intake.
There are concerns about children's lack of sleep. Most elementary, junior high and high school students sleep for around 7 hours. Adults must be careful to prevent children from becoming accustomed to staying up late.
Sakai City provides sleep education for elementary and junior high school students. In addition to instructing students on the effects of sleep and the amount of time they need, the city will have students record their sleep status, and if there are any problems, the school will consult with students and their parents to find ways to improve their sleep. It is important to promote these initiatives nationwide.
(From Yomiuri Shimbun April 8, 2024)
