Philips sleep survey shows Singaporeans still sleeping poorly

Sleep helps the body redistribute energy resources that are primarily used for brain and muscle work to the immune system¹. Clocking in at least seven hours of good night’s sleep on a regular schedule can reduce stress levels and improve overall well-being².

While Singaporeans are achieving the recommended minimum hours of sleep per night, sleep satisfaction of Singaporeans remains low, with almost half (49%) of Singaporeans saying they are not satisfied with their sleep. Some even feel disempowered when it comes to trying to get enough sleep, where 34% say getting adequate sleep is beyond their control.

Poor sleep quality is evident in the form of restlessness, and eight in 10 Singaporeans (79%) waking up at least once during the night. Just over half of Singaporeans say they have a good understanding of what prevents them from getting good sleep (59%), or know what they can do to tackle their sleeplessness (61%).

Looking at the factors that inhibit sleep, stress and worry continue to be the top reason (34%), along with one’s sleeping environment (15%) and mobile devices like phones or tablets (14%).

With Singapore’s high mobile penetration rate of 154%³, it is unsurprising that most Singaporeans (82%) who were surveyed use their phones in bed, despite experts’ recommendations not to do so.

Half of Singaporeans (51%) say the last thing they do before falling asleep is looking at their phone, higher than 39% of global adults surveyed, and 45% of Singaporeans look at their phone as soon as they wake up in the morning (vs 39% of global adults). Around 13% even respond to texts and calls that wake them up through the night, preventing them from getting uninterrupted rest.

Philips’ global sleep survey found that the fear of the unknown is a limiting factor for people getting diagnosed for sleep conditions such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). A quarter (26%) of Singaporeans believe they might be at risk of OSA, yet 24% are afraid to take a sleep test because they do not want to know if they have OSA.

As a seldom-discussed, under-diagnosed condition, OSA is characterized by repeated interruptions in breathing throughout the sleep cycle, preventing oxygen from reaching the lungs⁴. As many as 1 in 3 Singaporeans suffer from OSA, and 91% have not been diagnosed⁵. Symptoms of OSA include choking or gasping for air during sleep, loud and persistent snoring and excessive daytime fatigue, and poor concentration during the day.

“Although it’s positive that Singaporeans now see the importance of sleep for overall health, it’s still troubling that many are unable to get a restful night of sleep and not wanting to know that they suffer from OSA,” said Ivy Lai, Country Manager, Philips Singapore. “If left untreated, sleep apnea can have serious short and long-term health risks including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke and high blood pressure. We would strongly urge Singaporeans to get themselves diagnosed and be treated.”

Faced with the lack of quality sleep, 64% of Singaporeans also say they are interested in new information and strategies to improve their sleep. To combat their sleep woes, Singaporeans this year are experimenting with a variety of methods, including reducing their caffeine consumption (28%), instituting a set bedtime or wake-up schedule (27%) and reading (23%) in pursuit of better sleep.

“The decrease in people taking action to improve sleep is alarming, especially when it is clear people around the world deeply value sleep. Sleep deficit impacts people both mentally and physically, so we need to educate people on available sleep resources and empower them with the confidence that their efforts will pay off,” said Mark Aloia, PhD, Global Lead for Behavior Change, Sleep & Respiratory Care at Philips.

In conjunction with WSD, Philips is offering a Home Sleep Test promotion worth $350 to diagnose for OSA. The first 50 users who have been assessed as high risk of OSA through our Online Sleep Quiz will be able to book for free and for the next 50 users it will be $50. For subsequent users, it will costs as low as $100 for the home sleep test. After completing the booking for a home sleep test, an email will be sent to those who have scheduled an appointment with details for receiving a home sleep test kit.

Additionally, Philips is also offering a free Home Sleep Test Kit to those who suspect themselves or loved ones to be at risk of OSA. The Home Sleep Test kit will be delivered and allows individuals to identify sleep issues in the comfort of their home. Consumers can visit the following site to request for a free Home Sleep Test Kit: https://www.sleeptest.philips.com.sg/

To learn more about the Global Sleep Survey and Philips’ commitment to improving access to sleep technology worldwide, visit Philips.com/WorldSleepDay