Sleep-related problems affect 50-70 million Americans. Sleep problems are associated with obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, heart attack, motor vehicle accidents, work-related accidents, and more. Sleepy drivers are responsible for over 100,000 automobile accidents per year and this leads to over 70,000 injuries and over 1,500 deaths. Sleep deprivation also decreases work productivity.

Most adults need 7 to 8 hours of quality sleep every night. Sleep can be disrupted by many things including worry, poor sleep habits, not having enough hours for sleep, medical or mental illnesses, jet lag, noises and other disturbances, and specific sleep disorders. The three main specific sleep disorders all impair sleep quality and/or quanity and cause excessive daytime sleepiness. They are:

• Obstructive sleep apnea: episodes when breathing stops during sleep
• Narcolepsy: uncontrollable daytime sleeping, vivd hallucinations with sleep or awakening, paralysis at the beginning or end of sleep, and at times cataplexy (sudden loss of muscle tone often brought on by stress or emotion)
• Restless leg syndrome (also called nocturnal myoclonus): discomfort usually in the lower legs which only lessens with leg movement. The symptoms usually begin within an hour of going to bed.

Excessive daytime sleepiness, a symptom of poor sleep quantity and/or quality, can be evaluated using a numerical scoring system called the Epworth Scale. A score higher than 10 is worrisome. To calculate your score, rate how likely you are to fall asleep doing the following activites:

0 = Would never doze; 1 = Slight chance of dozing; 2 = Moderate chance of dozing; 3 = High chance of dozing

• Sitting and Reading
• Watching TV
• Sitting inactive in a public place (i.e. theatre)
• As a car passenger for an hour without a break
• Lying down to rest in the afternoon
• Sitting and talking to someone
• Sitting quietly after lunch without alcohol
• In a car, while stopping for a few minutes in traffic

Many people can improve their sleep by improving their sleep habits. Proper sleep habits, also called sleep hygiene, can be achieved through some simple measures: avoid daytime napping, avoid caffeine and other stimulants close to bedtime, exercise early or mid-day, avoid heavy exercise at night, avoid large meals close to bedtime, get enough day light exposure, establish regular bedtime routine, use bed for sleeping not for TV or radio, and keep the sleep environment calm and comfortable. For people with specific sleep disorders or other conditions disrupting sleep, the underlying problems can be evaluated and treated.