What health issue millions of Americans have in common with Kanye West and what to do about it

You may have heard about Kanye West’s recent hospitalization, reportedly for exhaustion and sleep deprivation. Some sources said it was a “mental breakdown,” following what’s been called “erratic behavior,” including controversial rants, ending concerts early, and even canceling the rest of his tour. While most of us aren’t living Kanye’s lifestyle, the Better Sleep Council has found that around half of Americans say they don’t get enough sleep, but many don’t do anything about it.

The importance of getting healthy sleep

Poor sleep quality and sleeping too long can cause inflammation in your body, according to a new study published in the journal Biological Psychiatry. Inflammation is a hot topic these days, and for good reason! It has been shown to be connected to a wide variety of health concerns, illnesses and diseases.

Wake-up call: Sufficient sleep is a necessity

When you think of living a “healthy” lifestyle, what comes to mind? It seems exercise and nutrition get all the praise. But what about sleep? In a fast-paced society that places productivity above all else, sleep is sometimes associated with laziness. Or it’s seen as a luxury. But it is just as critical as the food you put in your body. Getting sufficient sleep isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity. It seems sleep-deprived Americans are in desperate need of a wake-up call.

Get your beauty sleep or you may be upping your risk for hypertension, diabetes, premature aging & more

Sleep deficiency and poor sleep quality are widely underestimated as major causes of health problems and mortality. They are not only related to daytime sleepiness, poor memory and decreased ability to concentrate, but to more serious outcomes as well, such as increased car crashes (1.2 million car crashes in the U.S. each year are related to drowsiness), and a multitude of permanent adverse health effects such as increased heart problems, degenerative effects on brain function, premature aging and weight gain. Statistics show that at least 50-70 million people in the U.S. have a sleep disorder. A Gallup poll suggests that as much as 40 percent of Americans get less than the recommended sleep time. Sleep times averaged 7.9 hours in 1942. This number has steadily decreased to 6.8 hours in the 1990s and 2000s.

Simple tips to catch your Zzz’s

It's a cruel joke. You're exhausted, you pulled a 14-hour day, you know you should be passing out – and yet, you can't sleep. Again. Chronic insomnia plagues millions of Americans. Addictions to tablets, phones, caffeinated coffee and teas, late-night Game of Thrones binges, work martyrdom, bad news on television, and chronically worrying about your children/love life/paycheck/waist size allcontribute to the problem. In short, everyone seems to be sabotaging their sleep like nobody’s business.