The big game is right around the corner and people all across the U.S. are looking forward to a night filled with food, drinks and friends.
The matchup for Super Bowl LVII is officially set, with the Philadelphia Eagles playing the Kansas City Chiefs at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on Sunday, February 12.
So with the annual extravaganza on the horizon, there are two questions: Are you ready for some football? Also, are you ready for some sleep deprivation?
If you have trouble getting some shut eye after the NFL finale, you’re far from alone.
Studies in recent years have found that 40% of people say they’re sleep-deprived after the Super Bowl, with nearly 17 million people calling out sick on the Monday after. Beyond the Super Bowl, sleep deprivation is an issue that affects millions of Americans each year, with one-third of adults reporting that they sleep for less than seven hours per night.
A lack of restful sleep can lead to many other chronic health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, stroke, obesity and depression, among others.
Dr. Abhinav Singh MD, FAASM, a medical review expert at SleepFoundation.org and medical director of the Indiana Sleep Center, said so many people struggle to get to sleep after the Super Bowl because of several factors that make the occasion great in the first place.
These include being energized for hours on end around friends and family watching a high-stakes game along with prolonged light exposure throughout the evening. Singh added that stimulating snacks and beverages, especially those with caffeine, contribute to a restless night’s sleep.
Singh said that despite the mitigating factors that cause a lack of sleep, there are steps people can take to be better prepared for rest after the game.
“Plan for the next day in advance and pay attention to all of these factors that cause a lack of sleep,” he said. “You should limit your caffeine intake, practice moderation with alcohol and keep drinking water and consuming fruits instead of calorie-dense snacks.”
Singh also advised medical marketers to continue to encourage the importance of sleep and health in the campaign efforts.