Poll asks: Are Americans getting enough sleep at night?

Washington – U.S. adults sleep less at night than many of their peers in other countries, according to a new poll from the National Sleep Foundation.

NSF surveyed 1,500 adults in the United States, Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, Germany and Japan for its 2013 International Bedroom Poll. On average, Americans reported sleeping six hours and 31 minutes on weekdays, which is 30 to 40 minutes less than people in some other countries. More than half of respondents from the United States slept less than seven hours on work nights, compared with 66 percent of Japanese and 36 percent of people in the United Kingdom, according to a press release. Further, 21 percent of Americans reported sleeping less than six hours.

Although 44 percent of American respondents said they usually get a good night’s rest, one-quarter reported they never or rarely sleep well.

Sleep tips from NSF include exercising, having consistent sleep and wake times, and removing televisions and computers from bedrooms.