WASHINGTON, DC, March 29, 2005 –NSF’s Sleep in America poll finds 75% of adults frequently have a symptom of a sleep problem such as waking a lot during the night, or snoring.  Although they say they have these symptoms, most ignore them and few think they actually have a sleep problem. Many adults say they are often tired, fatigued or don’t feel up to par; they are not satisfied with the quality of their sleep, but most don’t take steps to improve it. Only about one-half of respondents are able to say on most nights, "I had a good night’s sleep."

Poor sleep and sleepiness cause disruptions in nearly every facet of one’s life.

n 60% of adults licensed to drive say they have driven drowsy in the past year, an increase over recent years

n 4% have had an accident or near accident because they were too tired, or actually dozed off while driving.

n Sleep-related issues are cited as the most common reason people are late for work. Almost 3 in 10 working adults say they have missed work, events/activities or made errors at work because of sleep-related issues in the past three months.

n For partnered adults, sleep problems are doubly disruptive, as one partner’s sleep problem can cause the other to lose, on average, nearly an hour of sleep a night.

"The 2005 Sleep in America poll shows that sleep is the great American divide. Half of the country sleeps pretty well – the other half has problems," says Richard L. Gelula, NSF’s chief executive officer. "The data provide a compelling snapshot of how our lives are dramatically affected by the way we sleep. People who sleep well, in general, are happier and healthier. But when sleep is poor or inadequate, people feel tired or fatigued, their social and intimate relationships suffer, work productivity is negatively affected, and they make our roads more dangerous by driving while sleepy and less alert. This poll shows the sleepiness that permeates our society has serious consequences, and Americans’ poor sleep is creating a public health and safety crisis in need of immediate attention," Gelula says.


Sleep Problems – Common, Widespread, and Ignored

America’s adults experience sleep problems on a regular basis, but they don’t necessarily consider their poor sleep a problem.

n One-fourth of respondents say their sleep problems have some impact on their daily lives.

n About one-half (54%) of those polled say they experienced at least one symptom of insomnia a few nights a week or more in the past year.

n The most common symptoms are waking up feeling unrefreshed (38%) and waking up a lot during the night (32%).

n More than one in four respondents (26%) are at risk for sleep apnea, according to the findings.


Sleep Quantity and Quality Matter

America’s adults average 6.9 hours of sleep each night, slightly less than the range of the 7-9 hours recommended by many sleep experts. However the 2005 poll also indicates that more people now say they are sleeping less than six hours on weekdays (16%) and weekends (10%) compared to respondents in NSF’s 1998 poll which found 12% sleeping less than 6 hours on weekdays and 8% getting that amount on weekends.
                                                   
On average, America’s adults say they need a minimum of 6.5 hours of sleep a night to function their best the next day; and about three-quarters of respondents say they get the amount of sleep they need or more. However, one-half of those polled report feeling tired, fatigued or not up to par during their wake hours at least one day a week; nearly one out of five (17%) says this happens every day or almost every day!

Quality sleep is missing for many adults, according to the poll findings. About one-half of respondents say they get "a good night’s sleep" every night or almost every night, however, one-quarter of those polled say they sleep well only a few nights a month or less. Poor sleepers are more likely than good sleepers to say that their intimate relationships are affected because they are too sleepy (34% vs. 8%). Sleep problems are prevalent among these poor sleepers; 88% say they experience at least one symptom of insomnia and/or a sleep disorder (94%) at least a few nights a week.


Health and Medical Conditions Associated with Poor Sleep

The Sleep in America poll shows a relationship between sleep and health. Adults diagnosed with at least one common medical condition (among them high blood pressure, arthritis, heartburn/GERD or depression) are less likely to say they frequently get a good night’s sleep and are nearly twice as likely to experience frequent daytime sleepiness than those who don’t have the conditions.

NSF’s new poll also confirms an epidemic of obesity in America.  Based on body mass index (BMI) measures, the poll finds:

n Nearly two-thirds of respondents (64%) are overweight or obese, conditions that clearly impact sleep

n Those considered obese are more likely to get less than six hours of sleep on weeknights (18% vs. 11%), and frequently have daytime sleepiness (37% vs. 26%).

n Obese people are nearly six times as likely to be at risk for sleep apnea (57% vs. 10%)


In conclusion, NSF’s 2005 Sleep in America poll shows that sleep-related issues are affecting the lives of most adults in America; they are affected at home, at work, on the road, and in their social relations. And in spite of the rising trend in reported symptoms of sleep problems/disorders, the poll finds most doctors are not asking patients about their sleep. NSF believes one of the most important questions doctors and other health care providers should ask their patients is, "How often do you get a good night’s sleep?" NSF also believes that a key to our nation’s health and prosperity may be the collective response to that question.

Visit NSF’s newly redesigned Web site, www.sleepfoundation.org for a Summary of Findings of the 2005 Sleep in America poll along with other sleep-related information and useful assessment tools.