Struggling to get a good night’s sleep in Fresno? You likely aren’t the only one, study says

Bryant-Jon Anteola
·2 min read

Feeling tired, groggy, grumpy or simply uninspired at the start of the day?

You might not be getting a good night’s sleep.

Those in Fresno might especially find it difficult to get good quality sleep.

A study by the U.S. News & World Report’s 360 Reviews named Fresno as one of the 10 worst cities in the United States (among large populated cities) for sleep.

Fresno ranked as the 10th-worst city in the country and the second-worst in the state when it comes to sleeping well through the night.

“[Where] you live can impact your sleep for the worse or better if you let it,” said Dr. Michael Gallo, a sleep medicine physician at Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, in a Healthline article. “If someone lives in a busy city with more distractions, there are more temptations to delay your bedtime.”

Researchers scored each city based on a variety of factors, including the following:

  • Air pollution (air quality measured by amounts of fine particulate matter of less than 2.5 micrometers that are suspended in the air for a 24-hour period by city in 2021)

  • Light pollution (light pollution, adjusted for land areas within each city, measured in spectral radiance)

  • Noise pollution (road noise data, adjusted for land areas within each city, measured in adjusted decibels)

  • Physical activity (overall prevalence of physical activity by state, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control)

  • Short sleep duration (overall prevalence of short sleep duration by state, as reported by the CDC)

Let’s not forget that a different study conducted last year by the American Lung Association concluded that Fresno County was the dirtiest place in America for short-term particle pollution.

Best and worst cities, tips for better sleep

The 10 worst U.S. cities for sleep health named by the U.S. News & World Report study were:

  1. Philadelphia

  2. Miami

  3. Detroit

  4. New York

  5. Memphis

  6. Chicago

  7. Washington

  8. Boston

  9. Long Beach

  10. Fresno

The cities considered the best for sleep health:

  1. Austin

  2. Raleigh

  3. Fort Worth

  4. San Diego

  5. Colorado Springs

  6. Albuquerque

  7. Tulsa

  8. Omaha

  9. San Jose

  10. Tucson

Quality sleep is considered important because it helps the heart, brain and other organs function properly.

According to U.S. News & World Report, tips to improve sleep quality are:

  • Use blackout curtains (keeps out unwanted light).

  • Try an air purifier (can help filter dust, pollen, smoke and dander, which all can affect breathing at night).

  • Turn on a sound machine (white noise can help mask unwanted environmental noise).

  • Upgrade bedding: New pillow and/or mattress can make a significant difference in comfort and relaxation.