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TV Zaps Americans' Sleep Time

Nearly half watch TV before bed

By Sarah Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 8, 2009 12:33 PM CDT

(Newser) – Feeling sleepy? Blame the glowing screen in your bedroom. Researchers studying sleep deprivation in the US say the boob tube is a likely cause, HealthDay News reports. Almost half of Americans say they watch TV right before bed, and that means natural sleep signals, like the dark sky and fatigue, are being ignored. "Many Americans are chronically under-sleeping due to lifestyle choices," said the co-author of a new study.

Not getting enough sleep—seven to eight hours is recommended, and 40% of Americans get less—can have serious health consequences, including impaired alertness and higher rates of obesity, illness, and death. So what should we do? The study's authors say "giving up some TV viewing in the evening should be possible to promote adequate sleep." And, ideally, go to work later in the morning.

Conan O'Brien  makes his debut as the host of NBC's The Tonight Show on June 1, 2009.
Conan O'Brien makes his debut as the host of NBC's "The Tonight Show" on June 1, 2009.   (AP Photo/Paul Drinkwater/NBC)
Jon Stewart hosts a taping of Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart on March 12, 2009 in New York.
Jon Stewart hosts a taping of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" on March 12, 2009 in New York.   (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
Flat screen TVs are displayed at the Best Buy store in Danvers, Mass., on March 24, 2009.
Flat screen TVs are displayed at the Best Buy store in Danvers, Mass., on March 24, 2009.   (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
Jezze
Jun 8, 2009 10:14 AM CDT
"And, ideally, go to work later in the morning." no kidding? obviously not all of us can have this convenience, you dumb ass.
inky
Jun 8, 2009 7:50 AM CDT
I have a friend who is unemployed, uninsured, losing his house and whose life is in ruins, but he never misses Letterman and even later-night shows. He always asks if I've seen this or that episode, and I always respond the same way: "No; I was sleeping!"

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