Press Release: Sanofi-Synthelabo Inc.
July 4, 2002
NEW YORK, NY -- According to a new survey by The Gallup Organization, the majority of Americans return from vacation
tired. In fact, more people said they were tired after they returned than before they left. The Gallup survey,
sponsored by Sanofi-Synthelabo Inc., identified poor planning, later bedtimes and unfamiliar or uncomfortable accommodations
as some of the key reasons why people arrive home tired from their trip.
The survey revealed that 54% of respondents reported they returned from vacation feeling tired, including 19% who
said they returned feeling either "very tired" or "exhausted."
"One would expect that vacation would dramatically reduce the number of people reporting tiredness, but instead
there was an increase," said Dr. Roger Cadieux, clinical professor of psychiatry at Penn State University's
College of Medicine. "Clearly, vacations are fraught with obstacles to sleep and relaxation, and the problems
often begin before you leave home."
Sleep Loss Starts Before Vacation
The survey of 1,000 Americans who traveled on vacation within the past year identified multiple factors and behaviors
that contribute to vacation-related sleep loss.
For example, results showed:
"Americans easily add to their sleep deficit before the start of their vacation," noted Dr. Cadieux.
"As a result, they make it much more difficult to recharge their depleted batteries in the course of a single
vacation."
Running into Sleep Obstacles
During their vacations, many respondents disrupted their normal sleep habits. For example, travelers tended to
stay up later than normal and wake up earlier than usual for a significant proportion of their vacation -- an average
of five late nights and five early risings for those who got to bed late or awoke early. Regardless of the length
of their trip, the majority of travelers stayed up later than normal on at least one night. Approximately 22% of
individuals vacationing for 10 to 14 days went to bed later than normal nearly every night.
"Limiting your time in bed is one of the most common ways to increase your degree of sleeplessness,"
said Cadieux. "A significant number of vacationers do not make sleep a priority on their trips."
Once in bed, 10% of respondents reported that they had trouble sleeping. The most commonly reported reasons for
sleep problems involved unfamiliar or noisy surroundings (42%), uncomfortable bed or accommodations (37%), medical
conditions, including indigestion and chronic sleep problems (20%), or worrying about work, financial, or family
problems (9%). Women were approximately two times more likely than men to experience sleep problems during vacation.
Making Vacation Sleep-Friendly
According to Dr. Cadieux, there are a number of ways to improve sleep during vacation and make trips more restful.
Travelers should consider the following:
- Start packing several days before you leave. Select, fold, and put clothes aside if you're concerned about
them getting wrinkled in your suitcase. Don't wait until the night before to decide what you're going to pack.
- Don't over-extend yourself before vacation. Start refreshed. Plan to get several good nights of sleep
before leaving. If you regularly have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, see your doctor. "A vacation
will do little to correct a chronic sleep problem, such as insomnia. You'll only take it on the road with you,"
explained Cadieux.
- Make your accommodations as familiar and comfortable as possible. Pack comfortable clothes and your favorite
pajamas. If there's room in your suitcase, pack your own pillow. If you have back problems, ask hotel management
for a room with a firmer mattress. If you're sensitive to noise, avoid accommodations on busy highways and opt
instead for the friendly inn on the quiet side street. Also, ask the reservation desk to put you in a room away
from the clattering elevator or chattering ice machine.
- Eat and drink moderately. Overeating, particularly late at night, can negatively affect sleep by causing
indigestion. Alcohol can also impact sleep. While it is often thought of as a sedative, alcohol actually may cause
you to awaken in the later half of the night. If your sleep isn't restful, alcohol may be the cause. Skip the nightcap
and see if your sleep improves.
- Choose a vacation that you'll truly find relaxing. Survey respondents who visited family were most likely
to return from their trip "exhausted" (12%), while those who took a cruise were most likely to arrive
home "well rested" (30%). If you really need the rest, consider a trip that will provide optimum relaxation.
- Plan to get a full night's sleep. You don't have to sacrifice fun for sleep. You can conquer every monument
in Washington, DC and still get a full night's sleep. Nevertheless, vacation is supposed to be rejuvenating. You
won't sleep if you approach vacation like a marathon.
- Stop worrying. Don't put work, family, or financial problems on the itinerary. You'll have more than enough
time to address these upon your return. If you must work during vacation, limit your efforts only to high-priority
tasks. Don't allow yourself to get pulled into conference calls about the broken copy machine.
For more information and other resources on sleep and making vacation more sleep-friendly, visit www.sleepfoundation.org
or www.shuteye.com.
The survey results are based on a national survey of 1000 telephone interviews with adults who were identified
as having taken a vacation away from home in the past year. The study was conducted during the period of May 3-26,
2002. For results based on samples of this size, one can say with 95% confidence that the error attributable to
sampling and other random effects could be plus or minus three percentage points. In addition to sampling error,
question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings
of opinion polls.
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Contact:
Contact: Leslie Hare
Company: Sanofi-Synthelabo
Voice: 212-551-4325