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Not getting enough sleep is the same as being drunk

According to science. - by Laura Barry
  • 05 Jul 2019
Not getting enough sleep is the same as being drunk

Getting enough sleep is integral to our health. However, when life gets busy or stressful, good-quality sleep is usually the first thing to go.

 

According to research done by the Sleep Health Foundation, 33% to 45% of all Australian adults are getting inadequate sleep. In fact, the survey found that insomnia affects 20% of adults, and sleep apnoea affects 8 per cent.

Although data suggests around 68% of Australians are getting the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep per night, 32% of Australians are not.

And unfortunately, new research suggests that not getting enough sleep is the same as being under the influence of alcohol, and affects your performance and decision-making skills.

man sleeping on desk

Don't be this guy.

Getty

An extensive sleep study conducted by researchers from the University of Oxford and the Royal Society for Public Health in the UK has found that a lack of sleep affects the body the same way drinking alcohol does. After 17 hours without sleep our alertness is similar to that of a person with a blood alcohol reading of 0.05%, and in Australia a blood alcohol reading of 0.05% makes you officially too drunk to drive. After 24 hours without sleep you can consider your body to be in the same state as it would be if you had a blood alcohol level of 0.1%.

It’s a very clear reminder of how important it is to get a good quality of sleep. Maybe it’s time to start heading to bed earlier, putting those phones away or scheduling a sleep in this weekend.

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Laura Barry
Laura Barry
Laura Barry is a writer, bookworm and interior design enthusiast with a love for reporting on all things homes, travel and lifestyle. When not tapping away at her keyboard, Laura can be found making endless cups of tea or perusing the shelves of Sydney’s many bookstores.

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