Special Report

Nevada Is Among the Most Sleep Deprived States

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Sleep is a key component of a healthy lifestyle. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that adults get at least seven hours of sleep each night — and falling short of this target carries a number of risks. Still, nearly 90 million American adults are not getting enough sleep.

Americans who do not get enough sleep are at increased risk of making mistakes in their day-to-day lives — and mistakes at work or while driving can have serious consequences. Insufficient sleep is also linked to depression and several chronic diseases.

In Nevada, about 889,700 adults — or 37.3% of the 20 and older population — do not get enough sleep, compared to 35.2% of adults nationwide. The share of adults reporting insufficient sleep in Nevada is the 19th highest among the 50 states.

Research has shown that sleep duration is linked to both regulation of blood sugar as well as metabolic changes, and that adults who regularly sleep less than seven hours a night are at increased risk of diabetes and obesity. Though it is not always the case, states with higher than average levels of sleep deprivation also often have higher rates of either diabetes, obesity, or both. In Nevada, 10.5% of adults have diabetes and 27.1% are clinically obese, compared to the national shares of 10.5% and 29.7%, respectively.

To improve sleep habits, the CDC recommends developing a routine of going to bed at the same time each night and waking up at the same time every day. The CDC also advises regular exercise and avoiding caffeine, large meals, and alcohol before bed time. Removing electronic devices, such as TVs and computers, from the bedroom can also help improve sleep habits.

All data in this story is from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute joint report, 2021 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. States were ranked based on the share of adults reporting insufficient sleep, which is less than seven hours per night on average

 

Rank State Adults not getting enough sleep (%) Adults with diabetes (%) Adult obesity rate (%)
1 Hawaii 43.2% 11.1% 24.6%
2 West Virginia 42.5% 15.1% 37.8%
3 Kentucky 42.1% 12.7% 34.6%
4 Tennessee 40.8% 12.5% 33.3%
5 Ohio 40.6% 12.2% 33.5%
6 Michigan 40.4% 11.0% 32.4%
7 Alabama 39.6% 14.5% 36.1%
8 New York 38.9% 10.1% 26.4%
9 South Carolina 38.8% 13.3% 34.0%
10 Virginia 38.6% 10.7% 30.5%
11 Pennsylvania 38.6% 11.0% 30.8%
12 Georgia 38.3% 12.0% 32.3%
13 Indiana 38.0% 12.1% 33.9%
14 Louisiana 38.0% 13.0% 36.3%
15 Mississippi 37.8% 14.6% 39.1%
16 Maryland 37.7% 11.1% 31.6%
17 New Jersey 37.5% 9.9% 27.0%
18 Oklahoma 37.5% 12.3% 34.5%
19 Nevada 37.3% 10.5% 27.1%
20 Florida 37.3% 10.8% 27.2%
21 Arkansas 37.2% 13.5% 35.0%
22 Rhode Island 36.7% 10.1% 28.5%
23 Delaware 36.5% 11.8% 32.4%
24 North Carolina 36.1% 11.5% 32.3%
25 New Hampshire 35.3% 9.6% 28.6%
26 Missouri 35.2% 11.4% 32.5%
27 Arizona 34.9% 9.6% 27.9%
28 California 34.5% 8.8% 24.3%
29 Maine 34.5% 10.4% 29.8%
30 Texas 34.4% 10.2% 31.4%
31 Massachusetts 34.3% 8.7% 25.0%
32 Kansas 34.0% 10.5% 33.0%
33 Wyoming 33.8% 9.0% 29.2%
34 Connecticut 33.8% 9.2% 26.3%
35 Illinois 33.5% 9.9% 29.7%
36 Idaho 33.4% 9.3% 29.0%
37 Alaska 33.3% 8.3% 31.9%
38 Iowa 33.1% 9.9% 34.3%
39 New Mexico 33.1% 9.5% 27.3%
40 Oregon 32.8% 9.7% 29.3%
41 North Dakota 32.8% 9.4% 33.9%
42 Wisconsin 32.7% 9.5% 31.7%
43 Nebraska 32.3% 10.0% 33.4%
44 Washington 31.8% 9.3% 28.6%
45 Utah 31.2% 7.5% 27.0%
46 Montana 30.9% 8.9% 27.1%
47 South Dakota 30.1% 10.1% 32.4%
48 Vermont 30.1% 8.8% 27.0%
49 Colorado 30.0% 6.6% 22.4%
50 Minnesota 29.1% 8.5% 29.0%

 

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