Are we really sleepless in Seattle? Survey says: Yes!

SEATTLE — Certainly, we've all been there. For whatever reason, you get very little sleep.

The short-term consequences of not getting enough sleep every night can include more errors during the day, lapses in concentration and moodiness.

But the long-term side effects of not getting enough winks can be truly devastating, according to sleep expert Chris Winter, who said most organs in the body can be negatively affected by lack of sleep.

“Cardio vascular health suffers tremendously (and) heart attack and stroke risk goes up," said Winter, a neurologist and sleep specialist with Charlottesville Neurology and Sleep Medicine. "We have difficulty with digestion, weight gain (and) blood pressure."

Winter said people don't realize it but the sleep they're getting when they are in their 30s and 40s will help determine their health when they reach their 60s and 70s.

So, are people really sleepless in Seattle?

According to a new survey from SleepScore, the answer is yes, with most residents only getting an average of just six hours of sleep.

That's about the same level of rest as people in Chicago, Washington, D.C., Denver and Boston.

The average is even worse in Phoenix, where people average just five hours and 42 minutes of sleep a night!

There are also lots of night owls in Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Jose and Houston, each getting just a few minutes more each night.

The residents of those cities were all far below the seven-to-nine hours of sleep Winter says we need every night.

So, what can be done to boost the amount of sleep time?

“One is having a nighttime routine," Winter said. "We talk about it with kids but it's also important for adults. It helps the brain wind down."

He said the nightly routine should not include exercise, which should be done earlier in the day along with consuming any caffeine, alcohol or nicotine.

Sleepers should unplug and avoid screens for at least 20 to 30 minutes before going to bed.

So, what's the root cause for this lack of sleep? Three quarters of those surveyed said they simply procrastinate before going to sleep.