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Police don't get
enough sleep
This news concerns me both as a health issue and an issue of public safety: a survey of nearly 5,000 police officers in the United States and Canada revealed that these law enforcement professionals are frequently suffering from sleep problems—and this lack of sleep is negatively affecting both their health and their performance on the job.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital screened 4957 police officers for sleep disorders, beginning with an initial screening and following with check-in screenings every six months for the next two years. Their results showed a significant portion of police officers grappling with sleep disorders, weight problems, and complications from lack of sleep. Among the 5,000 police officers who were screened:
- 40.0% had some type of sleep disorder
- 6.5% suffered from moderate to severe insomnia
- 33.0% had obstructive sleep apnea
The link between obstructive sleep apnea and obesity is clear: being overweight or obese is the single greatest risk factor for sleep apnea. In this study:
- 4 out of 5 police officers were overweight or obese
