PARKERSBURG - Some local residents are not surprised by a study naming West Virginia as the most sleep-deprived state.
According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that appears in Parade Magazine in today's The Parkerburg News and Sentinel, 19.3 percent of West Virginian respondents reported getting insufficient sleep.
Based on the results, 1 in 5 people who reside in the state do not get enough sleep. The national average is around 1 in 10.
Dr. Gary Norum, clinical psychologist in Parkersburg, said people should be getting between seven and nine hours of sleep each night.
"I'm not surprised by the study, but I can't say that I would have predicted these results," said Norum. "West Virginia tends to rank low when it comes to other health measures, and these things may all be connected."
According to a 2002 study by the CDC, West Virginia ranked first in the nation for prevalence of obesity. The state has also ranked near the bottom for other measures of health, such as heart disease, smoking and high blood pressure.
"Various illnesses can cause sleep deprivation, but it also works the other way around. Sleep deprivation can also cause various illnesses," said Norum.
According to the CDC, sleep deprivation is associated with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity and depression. Drowsiness also causes car accidents and poor judgment and reduces productivity.
The study did not explore the causes of sleep deprivation in West Virginians, but area residents had some ideas.
"It doesn't surprise me. People work hard here," said Alex Conger, a resident of Parkersburg. "With the economic situation, a lot of people have to work two jobs to get by."
Conger said he has never been a heavy sleeper, but he has not experienced major sleep problems or insomnia.
Lisa Brown, who works the early shift at a grocery store, said she often has trouble getting to sleep because of loud neighbors.
"Some neighborhoods are just noisier than others, and mine happens to be loud. There are parties and loud music late at night, and they do keep me awake," she said. "Not getting enough sleep really affects me during the day, but there are noisy neighborhoods all over the country. I can't really see why this state would be more affected than others."
Brown said daytime naps and trips to City Park help make up for lost sleep.
"I come to the park for the serenity I just can't get at home," she said.
Veanne Fuerhoff, a Parkersburg teacher, said stress could be a reason for sleep deprivation.
"There are times when stress from work and life keep me up. Maybe people who live in this state are just more stressed out than others," she said.
John and Tensia Spence, of Man, W.Va., were in Parkersburg this week visiting family.
"I would definitely agree with this study. I work 12 hour days six days a week," said John Spence. "Work seems to play a big factor in getting enough sleep, and most of the time, I don't."
Tensia Spence said sleep may not be a top priority in the state.
"There are just so many other things to do. People work, come home and get dinner ready, get the kids to their activities," she said. "But now that my boys are grown, I make time to sleep. If I have housework to do, I know it will be there tomorrow. There's no hurry to get everything done."
For a restful night's sleep, the CDC recommends going to bed at the same time each night to establish a routine. Keep the bedroom quiet and dark, and use the bed for sleeping only. Avoid doing other activities, such as watching TV or working, on the bed.
Amy Louden, psychologist with the Counseling and Wellness Center on Market Street, said she was not sure why West Virginia ranked the lowest, but she shed light on some causes of poor sleep.
"Poor sleep hygiene can involve a number of factors, such as eating big meals too close to bedtime or poor sleep conditions, such as a room that's too warm or cold, or other environmental factors like noise," said Louden.
The overuse of electronic devices, especially during sleeping hours, has also become a big problem, she said.
"Many people are on the computer until 1 a.m., and they expect they can just nod off to sleep after that. The truth is, we need at least an hour of down-time before bed to fall asleep properly," she said. "I see a lot of teenagers who insist they cannot fall asleep without listening to music, but no matter what kind of music you listen to, even if it's soft and calming, it is still stimulating your brain and making it harder to get a good night's sleep."
