Factors Affecting Sleep Quality in Office Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study Investigating Pillow and Mattress Factors and Musculoskeletal Symptoms.

INTRODUCTION

Sleeping is an important part of human life, but there is still a lot of mystery surrounding the relationship between the brain and the process of sleeping. Recent research has concluded that sleeping has much more impact on the brain than previously thought, as it resets itself and removes toxic waste byproducts which may have accumulated throughout the day. Sleeping improves memory recall, helps regulate the metabolism in the body, and reduces mental fatigue. Chronic sleep loss is a serious concern, as it can be constrained by the lack of sleep.

Sleep plays a critical role in physical health, regulating immune system functions and reducing the risk of infections. Poor sleep can weaken immune function, making individuals more susceptible to illnesses. Over the past decade, research has shown that disturbances of sleep, including insomnia complaints and extremes of sleep duration, adversely influence the risk of infectious and inflammatory disease and contribute to all-cause mortality. These findings have substantial public health implications, as 25% of the population report insomnia complaints and 10% meet diagnostic criteria for chronic insomnia. Behavioral treatments have robust efficacy, with remission of insomnia sustained in the long term. Research on sleep and health has focused on the biological mechanisms underlying these effects, which could identify those at greatest risk for adverse health consequences or be targeted to attenuate or even prevent morbidity. Furthermore, sleep is intricately linked to physical health and vitality. It contributes to the restoration and repair of various bodily systems, including the cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and metabolic systems. Sleep loss is a common condition in developed countries, with people sleeping on average 6.8 hours per night, 1.5 hours less than a century ago. Recent epidemiological studies have revealed relationships between sleep deprivation and hypertension, coronary heart disease, and diabetes mellitus. Sleep loss has been linked to hypertension, coronary heart disease, and diabetes mellitus.

Office workers, who typically engage in sedentary work activities and spend a significant portion of their day in indoor environments, are particularly prone to sleep disturbances. Sedentary behavior is becoming an important risk factor for poor health and mortality. Population research has found that as sitting or television viewing time increases, there is an increased cardiometabolic risk, independent of moderate/vigorous physical activity (MVPA). High accelerometer-determined sedentary time has been linked to metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors in healthy adults, and prolonged or uninterrupted sedentary time has been found to be a risk factor for poor health. With the evolution of the "technology age", sedentary time is reported to be increasing due to the shift towards reduced MVPA required in occupations traditionally requiring MVPA and the increasing percentage of office workers employed in low-activity occupations. While sedentary office workers may be less exposed to many of the hazards associated with more physically demanding occupations, they may gain less of the beneficial MVPA and be exposed to more of the potentially detrimental prolonged and uninterrupted sedentary behavior.

Office workers who have sleep issues may face significant effects on their daily functioning and general quality of life. Insufficient or poor quality sleep can affect cognitive function, including the ability to pay attention, concentrate, solve problems, and make decisions. This can lower productivity, increase errors and accidents, and decrease job performance and satisfaction. Furthermore, it can have a significant impact on mental health, including an increased risk of anxiety, depression, and emotional instability. Sleep habits and workplace behaviors have a significant impact on employee performance, safety, and health, as well as organizational-level success. It is important to understand how sleep habits and sleepiness impact workers and the organization and to emphasize the impact of good sleep on productivity and safety.