Sleep Disorders; Facts to Know.

Publication: NWHRC Health Center - Sleep Disorders

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COPYRIGHT 2004 National Women's Health Resource Center

1. Adequate restful sleep, like diet and exercise, is critical to good health. Insufficient sleep can result in mental and physical health problems and possibly premature death.

2. Research has shown that sleep loss accumulates over time causing sleep debt. Most people don't get the ideal amount of sleep they need and become chronically sleep deprived.

3. The majority of respondents to the National Sleep Foundation's 2002 Sleep in America poll, which looked at the relationship between Americans' lifestyles, sleep habits and sleep problems, rated the quality of their sleep as being good or better. In fact, 40 percent rate their sleep as either excellent or very good. Conversely, more than one- fourth (27%) categorize their sleep quality as fair or poor.

4. There is a difference between sleepiness and fatigue. Sleepiness is defined as the inability to stay awake even in situations when wakefulness is required, such as at work or...

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