Adults Sleep Badly

A poll of 1506 adults revealed that 75% of them frequently have sleep problems. A majority of the individuals ignored the problem, and few believed they actually have a problem. Of the respondents, only 50% said they slept well on most nights. The survey, conducted for the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), found the following:

• 25% of adults said sleep problems impact their daily lives
• 75% reported their partner has a sleep problem
• 6 in 10 adult motorists said they have driven while drowsy in the past year; 4% said they have had an accident or near accident because they were too tired or fell asleep while driving
• 7 in 10 people said their physician has never inquired about their sleep

The NSF, along with other sleep experts, recommended avoiding alcohol and caffeine near bedtime. The group also suggested that adults pay attention to how much sleep they get and the quality of that sleep, and get help if needed.