My Journey Around The World

Seriousness of “sleep debt”, the winner of Japan’s buzzwords contest

流行語大賞にも選ばれた「睡眠負債」の深刻さ

“Sleep debt” is a lack of sleep that gradually builds up to torment us like a loan. The word was nominated in the annual “U-Can New Words/Buzzwords Awards” contest in 2017. Sleep debt causes serious problems that may not only degrade the quality of life and work but also lead to diseases like depression, cancer and dementia.

 According to a survey conducted in 2012 by a pharmaceutical manufacturer, an average Japanese had 6.5 hours of sleep per day. It showed that only about 45% of Japanese were satisfied with their sleep. This indicates they have problems about sleep in terms of both quantity and quality. In fact, many Japanese suffer from insomnia. Some people say this lack of sleep has much to do with the development of industry.

 So, Hakumon Herald featured sleep debt with a focus on its causes and remedies. (Editor)

わずかな睡眠不足が、まるで借金のようにじわじわ積み重なり私たちを苦しめる「睡眠負債」。昨年のユーキャン新語・流行語大賞にもノミネートされた睡眠負債は、生活や仕事の質の低下を招くだけでなく、うつ病、がん、認知症などの疾病につながりかねない深刻な問題となっている。

ある医薬品メーカーの２０１２年の調査では、日本人の平日の平均睡眠時間は６・５時間で、睡眠に対する満足度も約４５％と低い結果が出た。日本人は、睡眠の「量」、「質」ともに問題があり、不眠症を抱えている人も多い。睡眠不足には、産業の発展が大きくかかわっているとの見方もある。

 そこで、今回、睡眠負債をはじめとした睡眠不足を取り上げ、その原因と対策を探った。(編集部)