National Sleep Awareness Week --- March 7--13, 2011

National Sleep Awareness Week --- March 7--13, 2011
Weekly
March 4, 2011 / 60(08);233




March 7--13, 2011, is National Sleep Awareness Week. Sleep impairment is linked as a contributing factor to motor vehicle crashes, industrial disasters, and medical and other occupational errors (1). Persons experiencing sleep insufficiency are more likely to have chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression, or obesity (2,3). In 2008, approximately 28% of surveyed adults in the United States reported frequent insufficient sleep (≥14 days in the past 30 days) (4), which has been associated with fair/poor general health, frequent mental and physical distress, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and pain (3). Sleep insufficiency and poor sleep quality also can result from sleep disorders such as chronic insomnia, restless legs syndrome, sleep apnea, or narcolepsy (1).

The National Sleep Foundation suggests that healthy adults need 7--9 hours of sleep per day, and school-age children might require 10--11 hours of sleep (5). Additional information regarding the public health importance of sleep is available at http://www.cdc.gov/sleep. Information regarding sleep health and safety is available from the National Sleep Foundation at http://www.sleepfoundation.org.

References
1.Institute of Medicine. Sleep disorders and sleep deprivation: an unmet public health problem. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2006.
2.Buxton OM, Marcelli E. Short and long sleep are positively associated with obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease among adults in the United States. Soc Sci Med 2010;71:1027--36.
3.Strine TW, Chapman DP. Associations of frequent sleep insufficiency with health-related quality of life and health behaviors. Sleep Med 2005;6:23--7.
4.CDC. Perceived insufficient rest or sleep among adults---United States, 2008. MMWR 2009;58:1175--9. [Perceived Insufficient Rest or Sleep Among Adults --- United States, 2008]
5.National Sleep Foundation. How much sleep do we really need? Washington, DC: National Sleep Foundation; 2010. Available at
http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/how-sleep-works/how-much-sleep-do-we-really-need. Accessed February 22, 2011.

National Sleep Awareness Week --- March 7--13, 2011