Amidst the chaotic happenings worldwide, many of us have experienced restless nights. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advocates for adults to get seven to nine hours of sleep each night to uphold a healthy lifestyle. Unfortunately, this recommendation doesn't align with the reality for the average American; a staggering 35.2% of adults in the U.S. admit to sleeping less than seven hours per night.
While well-known factors like stress, eating habits, and inconsistent bedtimes are recognized culprits for poor sleep quality, one crucial aspect often escapes scrutiny: air quality. In our pursuit to unravel potential connections between air quality and sleep, our team conducted surveys on people's sleep patterns and challenges. What strategies are individuals already employing to enhance their sleep? Additionally, as seasonal allergies are currently prevalent, how do they impact the quality of our sleep? Let's delve into these inquiries.
The most common sleep behaviors
Let's kick off with the intriguing aspects of dreaming – if your dreams are filled with vibrant colors, you're in the majority; 43% of surveyed individuals exclusively dream in color. Meanwhile, 30% of Americans experience dreams in both black and white and color, while only 7% report having dreams solely in black and white.
In terms of preferred sleep positions, the majority of Americans (73%) favor sleeping on their sides. Back-sleeping and front-sleeping trail behind at 30% and 28%, respectively. A quirky 3% responded with "other," leading us to ponder whether they might be mastering the art of ceiling-sleep.
When it comes to the emotional landscape of dreams, one in three people highlight anxiety as a prevalent emotion. Following closely are feelings of happiness at 31%, with love and excitement tying at 27%, and fear rounding out the top emotions at 23%.
Trouble strikes at bedtime
There's no denying that grappling with sleep difficulties or struggling to fall asleep poses a significant challenge for many individuals. According to our survey data, nearly half (44%) of Americans currently report experiencing sleep troubles.
When confronted with sleep challenges, people often turn to a variety of helpful and sometimes inventive strategies to facilitate a restful night. In addition to the well-established methods mentioned earlier, there's a plethora of less conventional approaches to address sleep issues. Our data indicates that 10% of Americans opt for a cold plunge or bath, 7% resort to the classic counting sheep technique, and 6% engage in journaling before bedtime. Furthermore, the survey highlights that among those facing sleeping problems, 40% resort to medication (such as sleeping pills or melatonin) to aid their sleep.
Sneeze to ZZZ’s
Bedtime routines often disregard common daily experiences that can impact our overall sleep health, such as air quality and seasonal allergies. In the United States alone, more than 50 million individuals suffer from allergies each year, and allergy seasons are becoming longer. Those who are afflicted with allergies are well aware of the literal and metaphorical headaches they can cause. These symptoms frequently persist into the nighttime when people are trying to wind down, greatly affecting the quality of their sleep in a negative manner.
The environment we create within our homes or apartments has a significant influence on our ability to sleep at night. A substantial portion of this environment is determined by the quality of the air we breathe, with allergens, pet dander, smoke, and mold all playing a role in sleep quality. Here are the primary environmental factors that people have identified as negatively impacting their sleep:
It is worth noting that 34% of individuals attribute their sleep problems to allergies, ranking second only to temperature-related issues (39%). This means that over a third of the population places the blame for their sleep difficulties on allergens. However, air pollution is not viewed as a major contributing factor to sleep problems by as many people (15%).
Air quality = sleep quality
Although the relationship between sleep and air quality is still not widely understood, a majority of individuals recognize the significance of air quality for our overall well-being. A staggering 69% of people feel more at ease in spaces equipped with air purifiers, and an overwhelming 90% believe that air purifiers are essential in all indoor environments. Among those who have purchased air purifiers, 36% have experienced unexpected benefits, including:
- A general sensation of improved or cleaner air
- Reduction in unpleasant odors
- A cleaner space with reduced dust
Significantly, people have also reported improvements in sleep and alleviation of allergies or congestion as a result of using air purifiers. Given these findings, it comes as no surprise that 79% of air purifier owners prefer to keep one in their bedrooms. Approximately 4 out of 5 individuals who own an air purifier utilize it in their bedroom while they sleep, with an average usage duration of 3 years. Furthermore, 32% of people specifically purchased an air purifier with the intention of improving their sleep quality, and within that group, an impressive 91% observed an actual improvement in their sleep quality with the use of air purifiers.
Another notable benefit of having an air purifier in the bedroom is the soothing white noise produced by the device. According to our survey, 60% of individuals use air purifiers as white noise machines to aid their sleep. Lifubide air purifiers, for instance, generate both white noise and pink noise, which are known to be conducive to sleep. These findings are particularly noteworthy considering a recent independent study discovered that 38% of people fell asleep more quickly while listening to white noise.
Ensure that sleep does not get neglected or overlooked.
Despite nearly half of the population facing sleep difficulties, only 49% of individuals possess air purifiers for their homes. One of the main reasons for this is a lack of awareness, with 29% of people citing this as the barrier to purchasing an air purifier. The process of buying an air purifier can be daunting due to the multitude of options available. In fact, over 80% of individuals who buy air purifiers conduct some research before making a decision on which brand to choose.