We are a society so used to sleep deprivation that we don’t even recognize what a huge problem this is, nor do we consider the consequences which may include maintaining alertness, lack of energy, impaired mood and trouble handling stress. Lack of sleep due to pain or discomfort can also put you at risk for injury, poor health and accidents. When you’re tossing and turning at night, do you ever wonder if you’re the only one having difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep? Unfortunately, you’re not alone.

For Millions, Sleeplessness Is a Fact of Life

A study conducted by the National Sleep Foundation reports that 20% of Americans (over 42 million people) lose a lot of sleep due to physical discomfort or pain. It is a problem that many people don’t recognize as a major problem that can cause a host of consequences. (Click here to read the article)

Prevalence of Sleep Difficulty

In 2002, the National Sleep Foundation commissioned an extensive “Sleep in America” poll to understand how well adults in the U.S. sleep. Overall, the poll showed that a clear majority of people surveyed—74% of the respondents—experienced a symptom of sleep disorder a few nights a week or more.

Symptoms of Insomnia Include:

• Difficulty falling asleep
• Waking up frequently during the night
• Waking up too early and not getting back to sleep
• Waking up feeling unrested

58% of people surveyed reported some or all of the above traits of insomnia at least a few nights a week, and more than 1 of every 3 (35%) have had one of these symptoms nearly every night during the past year.

That means over half of the U.S. population lacks one of the primary building blocks of physical, mental, and emotional health—a good night’s sleep.
People experiencing insomnia symptoms are aware of the negative impact—90% of those surveyed believe that not getting enough sleep can, indeed, lead to health problems.

Insomnia Affects You at Night and During the Day

• More than 90% of people in the survey view lack of sleep as an impairment to their work   performance.
• 85% say it has negative effects on their ability to get along with others.
• A significant number (37%) reported that daytime sleepiness gets in the way of their   daily activities a few days a month or more, and 16% said that sleepiness interferes with   their activities at least several days a week.

  Losing Sleep Can Be Hazardous to Your Health
  When you have trouble sleeping, you may notice that you have additional difficulty   staying alert the next day. Not only is insomnia a nuisance, but it can lead to potentially   harmful results
  According to the National Sleep Foundation poll, lack of sleep can result in a higher   incidence of emotional distress and dissatisfaction. People in the survey who slept 6 or   fewer hours on weeknights were more likely to report feeling sad, stressed, and angry on   a typical day, as compared with those who said they slept 8 or more hours on   weeknights
  Impacts Work Performance
• 90% of people surveyed agreed that not getting enough sleep could put them at risk for   injuries at work as well as negatively effect general performance and health
• Nearly 70% of people noted that not getting enough sleep the previous night would   make reading business documents more difficult
• 62% said that listening carefully would be much or somewhat harder
  Impacts Driver Safety
• Fatigue plays a role in over 100,000 police-reported highway accidents, leading to 1,500   deaths each year in the United States alone, according to the National Sleep Foundation
• About half of survey respondents noted that they have driven a car or other vehicle while   feeling drowsy
• 17% admitted to dozing off while behind the wheel

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