sleep

Are you getting enough Zzzzzs?

Everyone has trouble sleeping now and then.  But chronic sleep deprivation can do more than make you tired.  It can play a role in significant health problems like obesity, depression and heart disease. 

Sleep Deprivation Quiz

Are you at risk? Answer the questions below:

If you answered yes to two or more of these questions, you may be suffering from a sleep disorder.  Studies indicate that approximately 60 million Americans experience some degree of sleep deprivation while nearly 20 million suffer from sleep apnea.

• The American Sleep Disorders Association recognizes 85 sleep disorders

• Losing 1 ½ hours of sleep reduces alertness by 32%

• 1500 deaths a year result from drivers falling asleep at the wheel

• Experts believe the Challenger disaster and several friendly fire accidents in the Gulf war may have resulted in part from sleep deprivation

Women report more sleep problems than men.  In a National Sleep Foundation poll 53% of women aged 30-60 reported difficulty sleeping often or always.  However, only 41% of all the women surveyed thought they had insomnia during the past year. 

Women also experience more sleep problems because of hormonal variations (menstruation, pregnancy and menopause).  And women report more nighttime pain than men from conditions like migraines, tension headaches, chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia