According to a new poll from DID Electrical, 75% of Irish people bring their smartphones to bed each night, meaning that only one quarter of us switch off from our phones when we go to sleep.
The results come from a poll by DID Electrical, which also found that as much as 63% of more than 100 people polled categorised themselves as light sleepers, meaning that even the slightest noise or movement can wake them up.
As well as this, 57% of respondents said that they do not avoid caffeine later in the day, which is crucial for those trying to get a better night's sleep and one of the main remedies suggested by the majority of sleep experts.
Caffeine blocks the sleep-inducing chemical adenosine for as many as six hours, preventing you from getting your daily recommended amount of sleep. As for dosage, while a recent study stated that up to 25 cups of coffee a day are safe to drink, many experts suggest sticking to two per day if you are trying to improve your sleep.
Bringing your smartphone to bed with you is a necessity for many people, either because they use the alarm feature to get up in the morning or perhaps even as they are using an app to monitor - and improve - their sleep.
However, Ireland is a sleep deprived nation. In 2017, an international survey carried out by Aviva health insurance found that 35% of Irish adults said they do not believe they are getting the right amount of sleep. This survey also ranked Ireland as the second most sleep-deprived country after the UK, and out of 14 countries including China and Poland.
Recent research out of the University of Colorado found that poor sleep - which they define as less than seven hours a night - is linked to poor heart health. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Ireland, with 10,000 new cases each year, so increased focus on sleep and good quality sleep is needed in Ireland.
