One of the essential problems of nowadays - SLEEPING

“When you’re in a rush to meet work, education, family, or household responsibilities, do you cut back on your sleep, thinking it won’t be a problem?  Like many people, you might think that sleep is merely a “down time” when the brain shuts off and the body rests.  Think again. “

                               Source: The National Center on Sleep Disorders Research

We spend approximately a third of our lives asleep. Sleep is an essential and involuntary process, without which we cannot function effectively. It is as important to our bodies as eating, drinking, and breathing, and is vital for maintaining good mental and physical health. Sleeping helps to repair and restore our brains, not just our bodies.

During sleep, we can process information, consolidate memories and undergo a number if maintenance processes that help us to function during the daytime.  Sleep is crucial to the health of individuals.

Sleep is more complex process than many people realize, much of it is still a mystery to scientists. During sleep, the body goes through a variety of processes and sleep stages. Good quality sleep is likely to be the result of spending enough time in all of the stages, including enough deep sleep that helps us feel refreshed.

Poor sleep over a sustained period leads to a number of problems that are immediately recognizable, including fatigue, sleepiness, poor concentration, lapses in memory, and irritability. It is alarming is the fact that up to one-third of the population may suffer from insomnia (lack of sleep or poor quality sleep). This can affect mood, energy and concentration levels, our relationships, and our ability to stay awake and function during the day.

Sleep and healthy are strongly related, poor sleep can increase the risk of having poor health, and poor health can make it harder to sleep. Common mental health problems like anxiety and depression can often underpin sleep problems.

SLEEPING DISORDER STATISTICS - TALKING NUMBERS

Besides the lack of real novelty and true innovation in the bedding industry, another major problem appears- according to customers who want a good night sleep, comfort itself is simply not enough to have a good quality sleep.

This is confirmed by statistics that capture alerting information on the consequences of poor sleep. Despite the current efforts of the industry to provide well sleep and mitigate the consequences of poor sleep – statistical indicators do not change for the better. Even more from year to year are worst, and the government spends more money in order to mitigate the serious consequences of poor sleep and the damage that it courses for the economy.

• In one questioner from Legget & Platt, just 4 of 10 customers say that a comfortable mattress is responsible for their better sleep. The rest of them, 6 out of 10, are looking for something more;
• Specialist sleep clinics are treating more people with sleep disorders than ever before; National Sleep Foundation - sleep studies

• According to the Mental Health Foundation, more than 30% of the UK population currently suffer from insomnia or another sleep disorder - nhs.uk
• Last year, 15.3 million prescriptions were made for sleep medication;
• Sleep-deprived workers take six million sick days a year according to a survey, with the cost to the UK economy running to ￡611 million;
• The average sleep length for the nation is only 6 hours and 21 minutes per night, well short of the AASM recommended 7-8 hours for healthy adults;
• One of five workers admitted that they are taking a “sickie” because of a bad night’s sleep, these tired workers estimated related cost for employers totals to about $1.5 billion a year;
• Besides that, stress is the biggest problem in British workplace, with the cost to the British economy being estimated at ￡3.7 billion per year;
• The new figures highlight that 55% of respondents felt that their employment had an adverse effect on their mental well-being and day-by-day life.

All these facts indicate that it is a crucial time for an innovation in the bedding industry. The market is waiting for a new and strong answer for this big issue -  how to improve a sleeping.