The Truth About Sleep reveals test for sleep deprivation

  • Note the time and hover your hand with the spoon over the tray by the bed
  • The timing of the crash of the spoon on the tray indicates when you fell asleep
  • If 15 minutes, you are unlikely sleep deprived; if 10 minutes may be moderately; if just five minutes, chances are you are regularly missing out on adequate sleep
  • In the UK, three out of 10 adults admit to regularly getting less than six hours 

By

Alexandra Thompson Health Reporter For Mailonline


Published:
11:10 EDT, 5 May 2017

|
Updated:
11:41 EDT, 5 May 2017

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Many people battle with tiredness throughout the day.

Yet, a simple at-home test may reveal just how sleep deprived you really are.

All you need is a watch, metal spoon and metal tray (and a bed).

More than half of all adults in the UK struggle to nod off, with 40 per cent saying they regularly get just six hours sleep – considerably less than the recommended seven to nine.

In the short-term lack of sleep can make you irritable and lacking in focus, yet later down the line it may increase your risk of obesity, heart disease and diabetes.

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The test, known as a sleep onset latency test, requires you go to bed in the middle of the afternoon.

As part of the BBC programme, The Truth About Sleep, Dr Michael Mosley reveals how you can test yourself for sleep deprivation at home.

Set the tray on the floor beside the bed and position your hand with the spoon so that it hovers above the tray.

Note the time and close your eyes.

In theory, as you fall asleep you will drop the spoon and the crash against the tray will wake you.

Dr Mosley said: ‘All you need to do is check how long it’s taken you to go to sleep.

If you fell asleep after 15 minutes you’re okay, after 10 minutes shows you have moderate sleep deprivation and five minutes or less shows severe sleep deprivation.’

It took Mr Mosley, a self-confessed insomniac, around 10 minutes to nod off.

When tested on a group of office workers, of those who feel asleep, 30 per cent did so within 10 minutes.

The Truth About Sleep will air on BBC One next Thursday at 9pm.

This comes after a UK survey found ‘insomnia’ is the most searched for symptom in so-called ‘Dr Google’.

The condition racks up an average of 74,000 searches into the site each month.

For the test, position the tray at the side of the bed and check the time before closing your eyes

For the test, position the tray at the side of the bed and check the time before closing your eyes

For the test, position the tray at the side of the bed and check the time before closing your eyes

While holding the spoon, position your hand so that it hovers above the nearby metal tray

While holding the spoon, position your hand so that it hovers above the nearby metal tray

While holding the spoon, position your hand so that it hovers above the nearby metal tray

As you sleep, you will drop the spoon and the crash will wake you, letting you check the time

As you sleep, you will drop the spoon and the crash will wake you, letting you check the time

As you sleep, you will drop the spoon and the crash will wake you, letting you check the time

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