Philips Prepares to Celebrate World Sleep Day

AMSTERDAM (March 12, 2018)—Ahead of World Sleep Day on March 16, Royal Philips, a provider in health technology, has released the findings from its annual global survey in the report, “Better Sleep, Better Health. A Global Look at Why We’re Still Falling Short on Sleep,” which looked at what keeps people in 13 countries from getting their optimal night’s rest. Philips aims to use these findings to further enhance the conversation about an important yet often forgotten pillar of health and wellbeing: sleep health.

It is estimated that more than 100 million people worldwide suffer from sleep apnea, 80 percent of whom remain undiagnosed, and that globally, 30 percent of people experience difficulty in initiating and maintaining sleep. Sleeping well is essential to good health, and yet only one-third of people who suffer from sleep disorders seek professional help. Through the collaboration with Richter and its yearly global sleep survey, Philips aims to amplify the critical importance of restful sleep to the entire world.

In support of this effort, Philips will co-sponsor the immersive, overnight sleep experience performed by critically acclaimed, international composer Max Richter at SXSW in Austin, Texas on March 12. The concert, beginning at midnight and running until 8:30 a.m. on March 13, sees Richter and a string ensemble perform the entire eight-hour lullaby that was composed to aid relaxation, meditation and sleep. Having previously performed Sleep in Australia, the U.K., Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Spain, the concert at SXSW will be Richter’s North American debut.

Results from Philips’ annual sleep survey showed that globally, 77 percent of adults have tried to improve their sleep in some way, and 36 percent of adults across the globe have tried listening to soothing music to improve their sleep, an insight being put to the test at the sleep experience in Austin. The survey, conducted online in February by Harris Poll on behalf of Philips, reviews the sleep habits of over 15,000 adults across 13 countries (United States, the U.K., Germany, Poland, France, India, China, Australia, Colombia, Argentina, Mexico, Brazil and Japan), taking a closer look at how sleep is prioritized, addressed and perceived by populations around the globe.

Highlights from the survey can be found here. To view additional findings from this year or a past year’s global survey, visit: philips.com/worldsleepday.

Cornerstone of Health
“Sleep is the cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle. On a day to day basis, how well and how long we slept the night before is the single most important variable dictating how we feel,” said Dr. David White, chief medical officer, Philips Sleep & Respiratory Care. “Thus, inadequate sleep can have an immediate impact on our wellbeing unlike exercise or diet. This survey shows that despite knowing sleep is important to overall health, people are still struggling to address it in the same way they would exercise or nutrition. The more we understand how sleep impacts everything we do, the better we can adjust our lifestyle and find solutions that help us get better sleep.”

To further amplify their message, Philips brought together influencers from all over the world in the days before the concert, asking, “What happens when you don’t get enough sleep?” The international group of strangers went on tour from Los Angeles to Austin, completing sleep-related challenges and sharing their views on sleep, while learning the ways that Philips is committed to making life better by empowering the world to get a good night’s sleep along the way. The tour culminated at SXSW where the influencers will attend and share content during Richter’s overnight concert.

Beyond raising awareness through education about the importance of sleep, Philips is innovating sleep solutions rooted in clinical evidence and technical data that work together to promote better health—from clinical solutions designed to better manage sleep apnea, to modern technology designed to help people start their days naturally.

For more information on Philips’ advanced solutions for sleep and respiratory care, follow @PhilipsResp or visit sleepapnea.com.