Americans sicker than British

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/05/060502174532.htm
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5377794
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12595624/

A recent study shows that white, middle-aged Americans are much sicker (on average) than their counterparts in Britain.
Although researchers included as possible factors more stress in the U.S. from job insecurity, longer hours on the job, and fewer vacation days, not mentioned was the amount of sleep citizens get in each country. It would not be unexpected that the longer hours and more days of work in the U.S. are resulting in less sleep. Previous studies have shown that the average U.S. citizen does not get enough sleep. Since insufficient sleep lowers the immune system, increases the likelihood of obesity because of effects on hormones (a non-instinctive result), and increases the risk of death from all causes, if we get less sleep than the British, that should explain part of the difference.