What explains racial disparities in sleep? Physicians weigh in

And how can doctors’ guidance about sleep better reflect and account for these disparities?To find out, we spoke with Dr. Harshil Matta, DO, a family medicine physician at Loyola Medicine, in Chicago, IL; Dr. Emelia “Mimi” Arquilla, DO, an assistant professor of clinical family medicine at the University of Illinois, in Chicago; and Cynthia Taylor Chavoustie, MPAS, PA-C, a physician assistant practicing family medicine in Parker, CO.MNT: Numerous studies have pointed to lower sleep quality among people of color, compared with their white counterparts. What are some of the reasons behind these disparities?Taylor Chavoustie, MPAS, PA-C: Compared to their white counterparts, Black Americans are more likely to work night shifts or multiple shifts, live in noisy or crowded environments, not have assistance with childcare, live in unsafe neighborhoods, work in physically demanding and hazardous jobs, and have to get up earlier to take public transportation to their jobs — all of which can significantly interfere with sleep. If so, they may be more hypervigilant or not want to leave their home as often, even to get groceries or exercise.These issues are often consequences of institutionalized racism that places people of color at a disadvantage [and] ultimately contributes to healthcare inequalities.– Dr. Emelia ArquillaMNT: You mentioned shift work, urban residence, job strain, and discrimination as just some of the factors that may explain these race-related disparities in sleep. Most importantly, we [as healthcare professionals] need to ask about these factors and show that we understand that it’s not easy for some to make sleep a priority and that uninterrupted sleep or sleeping [for more than] just a few hours may not even be a possibility because of their living and work environments. MNT: Can you tell us more about the role that discrimination plays in these race-related sleep disparities?Taylor Chavoustie, MPAS, PA-C: Racial discrimination has been shown to increase job and personal stress, triggering emotions like fear, anger, and sadness, all of which naturally make life and sleep more difficult. Dr. Matta: I think racial discrimination plays a substantial role in sleep disparities.