Workers who Sleep for Eight Hours Daily Rarely Take Sick Leaves: Study

Employees who get adequate sleep are less likely to fall sick and take off from work, according to a study.

Sleep forms an integral part of our everyday lives by ensuring sufficient rest to the mind and body. Studies and scientific researches recommend adults to get a minimum of eight hours of sleep at night while children and adolescents must rest for 10 to 12 hours to boost immunity and brain and mental health. Experts at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health found that workers who ensured they slept for less than six hours or more than nine hours have higher chances of falling sick and have extended absences from work.

The researchers surveyed  3,760 men and women aged between 30 and 64 in Finland to record the association between poor sleep quality and risk of health ailments. Participants who reported sleeping seven to eight hours rarely applied for sick leave compared to those who slept more or less.

Seven hours 30 minutes and seven hours 46 minutes are the ideal number of hours of sleep men and women must get during night hours, respectively.

"Insufficient sleep -- due to inadequate or mistimed sleep -- contributes to the risk for several of today's public health epidemics. Getting at least seven hours of night sleep is a key to overall health, which translates to less sick time away from work," said Timothy Morgenthaler, president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, in a press release.

In addition, the study found that seeking medical attention for people with sleep disorders can reduce the country's overall expenditure and costs related to sickness by 28 percent.

"Optimal sleep duration should be promoted, as very long and very short sleep indicate health problems and subsequent sickness absence. Insomnia symptoms should be detected early to help prevent sickness absence and deterioration in health, well-being and functioning,"  said Tea Lallukka,  study author and specialized researcher at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health in the news release.

"Successful prevention of insomnia not only promotes health and work ability among employees, but it can also lead to notable savings in reduced sickness absence costs," she added.

The research was funded by the National Institute of Health and Welfare, The Academy of Finland and The Finnish Work and Environment Fund.

More information is available online in the Journal Sleep.