Gotham Cable News
June 20, 2008
Gotham Named "Most Sleep Deprived City in World"
Is it the constant noise of horns, sirens, and 24-hour bustle? Or is it fear of violent crime or Fear Toxin outbreaks?
Whatever the reason, Gotham beat out Cairo for the title of the Most Sleep-Deprived City in the World according to an annual study by urban experts.
All the coffee, caffeine-laden soda drinks, and energy drinks in the world can't solve the problem of sleepy Gotham citizens, said Dr. Henry Rechter of the National Institute for Slumber Research.
"What we're facing is a sleep crisis," said Rechter. "And sleep-deprived people are more likely to get involved in car accidents, violence, and drug and alcohol abuse."
The average Gotham citizen gets just 6.3 hours of sleep per night, according to the study. Many residents report less than 5 hours of sleep a night. Experts say that most people need 8 to 8.5 hours of sleep a night.
Dr. Stephanie Hart-Loveless, from Gotham General Hospital, was a local consultant in the study. "There's been a lot of sources for increased stress in the past year, and we're starting to see the effects," said Hart-Loveless.
"It's a vicious cycle. People who haven't slept properly go to work, or come home, and they've got short tempers, or they can't remember things, and they just create more stress."
But do the bleary-eyed Gotham masses think they are sleep deprived? The answer is no. 78% of those who slept less than 6 hours a night felt that they were sleeping as much as they needed to.
Again, Dr. Rechter: "People won't admit to being sleep-deprived. But they're hitting the snooze bar repeatedly, taking daytime naps, show dark circles under their eyes. They just don't make the connection."
And who might the most famous victim of sleep deprivation be in Gotham? Dr. Rechter says the most weary of us might be Batman himself.
"When he should be sleeping, he's out fighting crime," Rechter said. "That's got to harm his sleep patterns."
