The big report

Dreams & worries: This is how (badly) Austria sleeps

Constantly looking at the clock often exacerbates sleep disorders.

(Bild: SB Arts Media/stock.adobe.com)

The country's big sleep report: Men doze off faster than women. However, almost one in two wakes up at least once during the night. Worries, stress and psychological problems are on the rise. 

Didn't sleep a wink tonight or slept like a log? You often hear these phrases. In general, we get a better night's sleep than we thought. This is the conclusion of the latest IMAS report.

7.2 hours of sleep during the week
According to the report, the dream world of Austrians consists of 7.2 hours of sleep during the week. This corresponds to an increase of six minutes compared to the study conducted in 2017. 14 percent even rest between 8.5 and 10 hours. Our general bedtime is between 10 and 11 pm.

Around one in two people sleep through the night, but around one in five wake up several times during the night, mainly due to mental and physical stress.

DDr. Paul Eiselsberg, IMAS

Stress as the "top sleep robber"
Everyone spends more time in bed at weekends, when we manage an average of 8.2 hours. The majority of Austrians rest very well at night, the younger the better. What is interesting about the study is that neither gender nor education have an influence on our rest phases. Compared to the last survey before corona, however, worries, stress and psychological problems have increased. Almost one in three cited these as the "top sleep robbers".

Tips for a restful night's sleep

• Put your smartphone away at least one hour before going to bed.
• It is helpful to take a hot bath two hours before going to bed. This allows the body temperature to cool down in time for bedtime. The body can rest more quickly.
• Avoid heavy meals and caffeinated drinks before going to bed and drink plenty of fluids such as water or sugar-free tea.
• Raw food is also difficult to digest and should be avoided, especially later in the evening.

And how much rest time do we need in bed? Most people think that 7.9 hours is optimal. This means that there is a discrepancy between the actual and desired amount of sleep. Incidentally, it takes 17 minutes before we really forget everything around us. Men "count sheep" faster than women. Interestingly, almost every second person wakes up at least once during the night, 18 percent even several times.

Fatigue as a risk factor
"The consequences of a lack of sleep include daytime tiredness, loss of energy and motivation and concentration problems. Another risk factor - especially when driving or operating machinery - is reduced responsiveness," warns Dr. Bruno Pramsohler, an expert in this special medical field and scientific head of sleep medicine at the "BLEI BERG" retreat.

Austria's sleep researcher Primarius Dr. Bruno Pramsohler

(Bild: Humanomed)

The top doctor considers stress to be one of the main triggers of restlessness at night: "If you are under pressure during the day and can't find a balance, you take your worries to bed with you, and this leads to considerable restlessness between the comforter and pillow."

The "sleep doctor's" reassuring "diagnosis": "You don't need to worry too much about sleep disorders that are only caused by short-term stressful situations or a special event. It only becomes chronic if you don't get enough and, above all, restful sleep more than three times a week and for longer than a month!"

At the Carinthian "F.X. Mayr Retreat" in Bad Bleiberg offers special sleep medicine therapies.

(Bild: Humanomed)

The renowned physician - as well as the St. Pölten psychologist and extreme mountaineer Dr. Ronald Newerkla - is taking World Sleep Day on 17 March as an opportunity to appeal to those affected to seek medical help in the event of long-term disorders.

Sleep hygiene plays a central role in coping with problems. I also avoid stimulating substances such as caffeine in the evening.

Extremalpinist Dr. Ronald Newerkla

The power of sleep lies in nature
The Lower Austrian eight-thousander's secret recipe for the power of his tours and outdoor activities: "Seek the peace and quiet of nature and get enough exercise. Because if you come home from work mentally exhausted but not physically exhausted at all, you are less likely to fall asleep."