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Don't get enough sleep? Try getting rich

It seems wealth has its privileges.

Updated at 4pm

ARE YOU CONCERNED that you don’t get enough sleep? Feel permanently exhausted, the rat race dragging you down?

Well, it turns out the solution is to get rich.

New data from the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that the number of adults gettting more than six hours sleep nightly increases proportionately according to their income level.

The CDC is the US Department of Health think-tank that runs an annual National Health Interview Survey, the 2013 version of which is the basis for the new report.

cdc Graph depicting number of adults surviving on less than six hours sleep per night. CDC CDC

The released figures show that 35.2% of families living on the poverty line (about €22,000 total annual income for a family of four) sleep less than six hours nightly.

Conversely, of those living at four times the poverty threshold (about €88,000) in similar circumstances, just 27.7% are sleeping less than six hours each night.

The figures are also split into urban and non-urban areas with the same trends displayed regarding income – the only difference being rural areas show higher percentages across the board for people getting less sleep – probably attributable to commuting times and other rural-specific problems.

sleep

Quite apart from the well-off having a greater sense of security and well-being, the main reasons for the disparity in sleep patterns it seems are employment and family related, i.e. the better off have more control of their working hours and work fewer jobs, while also being better able to afford childcare assistance.

It pays to be wealthy it seems.

The CDC have previously called sleeplessness a ‘public health epidemic’.

“Unintentionally falling asleep, nodding off while driving, and having difficulty performing daily tasks because of sleepiness all may contribute to hazardous outcomes,” they say.

Persons experiencing sleep insufficiency are also more likely to suffer from chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, depression, and obesity, as well as from cancer, increased mortality, and reduced quality of life and productivity.

Driving while sleepy is estimated to cause 88,000 deaths on American roads each year.

Read: People are taking drugs like Ritalin to help them perform better in school and work

Read: Russia’s heavy drinkers turn to cleaning products over money woes

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22 Comments
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    Mute Denis Reidy
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    Apr 9th 2015, 12:37 PM

    I’d say Denis O Brien sleeps very well in his tax haven

    105
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    Mute RonanM
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    Apr 9th 2015, 12:38 PM

    Yawn

    75
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    Mute Con Manne
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    Apr 9th 2015, 1:19 PM

    What’s the difference between a light on and a hard on? You can sleep with a light on.

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    Mute Elma Phudd
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    Apr 9th 2015, 1:35 PM

    Con. It’s ‘what’s the difference between light and hard?’!

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    Mute Denis Reidy
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    Apr 9th 2015, 5:29 PM

    Semi?

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    Mute Con Manne
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    Apr 9th 2015, 9:07 PM

    Bungalow.

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    Mute Joseph O'Regan
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    Apr 9th 2015, 1:07 PM

    Lot of people working two jobs to make ends meet in America so not much time for sleep.

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    Mute Elma Phudd
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    Apr 9th 2015, 12:56 PM

    I was obviously rich until the last 3-4 nights and will be poor until the weekend. Can’t feckin sleep at all right now!

    59
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    Mute Tom
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    Apr 9th 2015, 12:59 PM

    I find that glancing at thejournal.ie comments section is both tiring and uplifting.
    You get the same old tiresome whinging from 5 he same contributors and you get to feel superior as well. Great night’s sleep guaranteed.

    48
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    Mute Chris
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    Apr 9th 2015, 1:00 PM

    A lot of them are unconscionable sociopaths – fleecing people actually helps them get a better sleep.

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    Mute Peter Hargan
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    Apr 9th 2015, 1:07 PM

    Food,warmth and a nice comfy bed might just have something to do with it

    29
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    Mute Michael Skellig
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    Apr 9th 2015, 4:21 PM

    The rich have no conscience, hence more sleep.

    25
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    Mute Joanna
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    Apr 9th 2015, 12:39 PM

    Maybe because not rich people need to work more?

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    Mute Top Cat
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    Apr 9th 2015, 12:42 PM

    Or because rich people aren’t out until all hours slangin rocks of crack.

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    Mute saltaroo
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    Apr 9th 2015, 12:46 PM

    Cos that’s what everyone on the poverty line does

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    Mute Whatsup Dok
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    Apr 9th 2015, 1:21 PM

    hmm, I’m poorer than I realised so

    16
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    Mute The Professor
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    Apr 9th 2015, 2:08 PM

    The headline changed again! Like something you would see in the English tabloid papers. I bet the journalists sit around the office high-fiving each other after every effort

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    Mute Caroline Dunlea
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    Apr 9th 2015, 5:01 PM

    Having the few bob eases the mind… D’oh!

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    Mute Noel Falkhall
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    Apr 9th 2015, 3:31 PM

    My wife who is rich beyond belief has tough time sleeping and I the poor one sleep like a log every night so the story is a crock….

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    Mute Colin C
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    Apr 9th 2015, 3:25 PM

    The socialist solution to this is to make sure no one sleeps. Then we will all be equal. And that’s the main thing.

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    Mute William lynn
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    Apr 9th 2015, 10:11 PM

    And what did the study say about sleeping on a bed of money ?

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    Mute Calisto Roberto
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    Jul 29th 2016, 8:12 AM

    Hello everyone i want to share my testimony on how i belong to illuminati member, a friend of mine always give me money…because he was very rich, one day he said he is not going to give me fish that he is going to teach me how to fish, so i was very happy, i never new he was a member of illuminati since we started our friendship! so i was initiated to the illuminati order and few days later i was awarded a contract worth of millions of Dollars, in my business i am doing very well right now, i can now influence people, render financial help etc, if you want to become a member contact us via email: illuminatiorder.co@gmail.com or call +2348137838605

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