Differences in sleep may affect health in micro-communities.

Minority and low-income communities experience sleep deprivation that can affect their health.

In an article published in Lancet Neurology, Girardin Jean-Louis, Ph.D., talks about how sleep deprivation affects the health of small communities. People in these groups are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other chronic diseases. Lack of sleep helps promote these differences.

“Blacks and Latinos in America get 30 to 60 minutes less sleep. [per night] Dr. Jean-Louis, who directs the Center for Translational Sleep and Circadian Sciences (TSCS) at the Miller School of Medicine in Miami, than white people. Counting in models. It is only in the last 20 years that we have realized how important this lack of sleep is to overall health.

Dr. Jean-Louis helped pioneer the understanding of how sleep deprivation affects health and reduces quality of life. In some cases, the problem is systemic. People with low incomes have a hard time getting the care they need because they simply can’t afford it.

Other cases may cover entire neighborhoods. Loud noise, light and dust pollution can disrupt sleep.

There are many social factors that determine sleep health. Whether you happen to live, study, work or play, play, go to church, anything that isn’t conducive to rest in that area can affect your ability to sleep well.

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There are also social and cultural factors that influence how (and whether or not) people seek out their sleep problems. Sleep apnea, in which people stop breathing for short periods of time, greatly increases their risk of heart attack or stroke, but many people don’t even know they have it.

“I have a lot of patients who come in because their husband or wife is snoring and they have to sleep on the couch,” says Dr. Jean-Louis. “When I ask them if they snore, they say absolutely not. But when I do a sleep study in the clinic, they stop breathing 20 to 30 times an hour – significant sleep apnea.”

Because many people refuse to go to the hospital for a sleep test, TSCS is now conducting sleep studies in people’s homes. But this is only a partial solution -; People need to know the problem before seeking care.

“We need to be in the community: health fairs, hairdressers, beauty salons, places of worship,” said Dr. Jean-Louis. “I also encourage my patients to spread the word. Snoring can be a sign of a serious health problem, and people need to be aware.”

Dr. Jean-Louis wants to increase participation at all levels. Clinicians need to treat sleep issues more quickly. Information brochures should be targeted at all communities. Cities can implement light restrictions and noise bans and develop more green space.

“These are simple things,” said Dr. Jean-Louis. “Take care of the noise, take care of the lights, take care of the parks. It costs money, but not a lot. And in the big picture, it costs less than taking care of people with chronic pain.”