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Sleepy Nation: None of us are getting our beauty rest
Story By: Bea Karnes
Source: NBC
A new survey confirms what you've probably already known. The National Sleep Foundation says Americans are working more and sleeping less.
The phone survey shows that drowsiness doesn't just pose a productivity problem: It could put your life and others at risk.
"Something's got to give and what unfortunately gives is nighttime sleep. Approximately, a third of us report that we are drowsy at work once or twice per month," said the National Sleep Foundation's Thomas Balkin.
It's happened to Vice President Cheney, former President Clinton and a cable repair man, all made highlighted online.
Far more troubling: Guards were caught napping on the job at a Pennsylvania nuclear plant and the FAA received at least two separate reports of commercial airline pilots sleeping during flights.
Many of us are simply sleepy behind the wheel.
It can even hurt relationships. "One in five of us report that our interest in sex and the frequency with which we engage in sex is reduced because of tiredness," Balkin said.
Experts say the only cure for tiredness is sleep. "You could even add fifteen minutes every night and it may add up to enough minutes for you over the course of a week," said sleep researcher Joyce Walseben.
The Sleep Foundation says employees should make sleep a priority and suggests employers think about giving their workers a break for naps.
