An Official American Thoracic Society Statement: The Importance of Healthy Sleep. Recommendations and Future Priorities

Abstract

Rationale: Despite substantial public interest, few recommendations on the promotion of good sleep health exist to educate health care providers and the general public on the importance of sleep for overall health.Objectives: The aim of this American Thoracic Society (ATS) statement is to provide a review of the current scientific literature to assist health care providers, especially pulmonologists and sleep physicians, in making recommendations to patients and the general public about the importance of achieving good quality and adequate quantity of sleep.Methods: ATS members were invited, based on their expertise in sleep medicine, and their conclusions were based on both empirical evidence identified after comprehensive literature review and clinical experience.Main Results: We focus on sleep health in both children and adults, including the impact of occupation on sleep, the public health implications of drowsy driving, and the common sleep disorders of obstructive sleep apnea and insomnia. This ATS statement also delineates gaps in research and knowledge that should be addressed and lead to new focused research priorities to advance knowledge in sleep and sleep health.Conclusions: Good quality and quantity of sleep are essential for good health and overall quality of life; therefore a strong recommendation was made for the implementation of public education programs on the importance of sleep health.

High School Start Times and the Impact on High School Students: What We Know, and What We Hope to Learn

“…40 Various professional organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the American Thoracic Society, and the National Sleep Foundation recently have recognized that a healthy sleep is important for adolescents and children. 27,[41][42][43] The American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the National Sleep Foundation agree that adolescents should sleep 8 to 10 h for optimal health. 41,43 However, national data for 2013 show that US high school students reported that 68.4% slept 7 h or less on school nights whereas only 23.2% slept 8 h, 6.0% slept 9 h, and 2.4% slept 10 h or more.…”

Sleep duration and health among older adults: associations vary by how sleep is measured

“…[12][13][14] In 2015, the National Sleep Foundation, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine/Sleep Research Society, and the American Thoracic Society each issued new sleep recommendations. [15][16][17] Their expert panels reached divergent views about long sleep. The National Sleep Foundation placed more than 10 h in a 'not recommended' category for adults aged , and more than 9 h 'not recommended' for adults 65 and older.…”

Couples' experiences with continuous positive airway pressure treatment: a dyadic perspective

“…21 One objective of Healthy People 2020 is to increase the proportion of individuals with symptoms of OSA who seek medical evaluation. 22,23 As suggested by the findings, for individuals living with partners, the partner can play a crucial role in identifying abnormal sleep and advocating for evaluation and treatment. Leveraging the important role of the partner needs to be an important component in public health strategies aimed at improving sleep health.…”

“…Statements from the American Thoracic Society and American Heart Association emphasize sleep as an important lifestyle contributor to health, and interventions to improve sleep are critically needed. 23,36 Shifting from the traditional view of sleep as an individual phenomenon to a dyadic perspective may allow for the development of sleep behavioral interventions that are more effective and sustainable. For example, sleep hygiene recommendations that account for both partner’s circadian preferences and work schedules as well as desire for quality time together may result in more effective interventions for improving sleep health.…”