[Click! Health] Koreans Sleep 6.9 Hours a Day... 'Using Phone in Bed Is a Shortcut to Shortened Lifespan'

Sleep plays various roles beyond relieving fatigue accumulated during the day. It enhances memory and concentration, maximizes exercise effects to regulate weight, and strengthens the immune system. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle through quality sleep also reduces the risk of diseases such as stroke and dementia.

[Photo by Rezmed]

However, according to ResMed, a global sleep solutions brand, the quality of sleep among Koreans ranks among the lowest worldwide. A survey conducted on over 20,000 people aged 18 and older from 12 countries including Korea, the United States, Japan, and China, in celebration of World Sleep Day on March 17, revealed that the average sleep duration of Koreans was 6.9 hours, the second shortest after Japan, which recorded the lowest. This is significantly below the global average sleep duration of 7.3 hours.

In particular, 52% of Korean respondents in the survey reported being ‘unsatisfied with their sleep,’ and among them, 25% experienced reduced sleep quality due to anxiety and depression, which led to daytime sleepiness (37%), decreased concentration (30%), and mood changes (30%). The problem is that 33% of these individuals are completely unaware that these symptoms could be causes of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) or other sleep disorders. Additionally, although 89% of Koreans know that sleep deprivation can cause various diseases, they have never consulted a specialist or received treatment.

A ResMed representative stated, “Regularly checking one’s sleep habits and maintaining a quality sleep environment is the first step to sustaining a healthy lifestyle,” adding, “The most efficient way to reduce mortality risk and increase productivity is to maintain an appropriate amount of sleep.”

For healthy sleep, basic diet management and exercise must be supported. At least 8 hours of sleep per day is necessary, and even if there are no obvious symptoms, sleeping only 4 to 6 hours a day can lead to severe fatigue and become a major risk factor for future health problems. It is important to create an atmosphere in the bedroom conducive to restful sleep or relaxation and to minimize the use of electronic devices such as smartphones before bedtime. Beverages containing caffeine like coffee, as well as alcohol and nicotine from cigarettes, cause alertness and disrupt deep sleep, so their intake should be especially avoided before sleeping. If it is difficult to sleep for at least 8 hours, one should develop habits of relaxing the body and mind and resting in bed before sleep.