| The NSF Sleep in America poll found poor | | | | friends and family (39%), stop eating |
| health and obesity are linked to an | | | | healthy (37%) and don't participate in |
| increased frequency of sleep problems. | | | | sexual activity with their partner (33%) |
| Women who report being in fair or poor | | | | when they run out of time or are too |
| health are significantly more likely | | | | sleepy in a day. Interestingly, work is |
| than those who report being in excellent | | | | the last thing that women say they |
| or very good health to: | | | | sacrifice when pressed for time; only |
| Experience any symptom of a sleep | | | | 20% of women responded that they would |
| disorder at least a few nights per week | | | | opt to put work on the back burner when |
| (66% vs. 30%) | | | | they run out of time or are too sleepy. |
| Have been told by a doctor that they | | | | About two-thirds (68%) of the women |
| have a sleep disorder (40% vs. 10%) | | | | polled say they were working during the |
| Experience daytime sleepiness at least a | | | | past month, with almost one-half (46%) |
| few days per week (46% vs. 12%) | | | | saying that they worked full-time. Some |
| Have missed at least one day of work | | | | working women (8%) report that they miss |
| because of sleepiness or a sleep problem | | | | work at least once a month due to |
| in the past month (26% vs. 7%) | | | | sleepiness or a sleep problem. In |
| Use any sleep aid at least a few nights | | | | addition, two in ten say they were late |
| per week (54% vs. 19%) | | | | to work more than once in the past month |
| Additionally, women with height and | | | | due to oversleeping (20%) or feeling too |
| weight that would be categorized as | | | | tired when they woke up (19%). About |
| obese (BMI ? 30) are more likely than | | | | one-half of women who are working (53%) |
| those with a BMI classified as | | | | say that their work schedule is flexible |
| overweight or average weight to: | | | | and women between the ages of 18 and 24 |
| Snore at least a few nights each week | | | | are significantly more likely than their |
| (46% vs. 33% for overweight and 21% for | | | | older counterparts to work |
| average weight) | | | | non-traditional hours or overnight |
| Experience daytime sleepiness at least a | | | | shifts. |
| few days a week (31% vs. 22% for | | | | Despite warnings, women are still |
| overweight and 18% for average weight) | | | | driving drowsy. More than one-quarter |
| Use a prescription sleep aid at least a | | | | (27%) of women polled said they have |
| few nights per week (23% vs. 14% for | | | | driven drowsy at least once a month in |
| overweight and 11% for average weight) | | | | the past year; 10% of those who had |
| "Adopting healthy behaviors such as | | | | driven drowsy did so with a child in the |
| eating nutritious foods, being | | | | car. The National Highway Traffic Safety |
| physically active, watching your weight, | | | | Administration conservatively estimates |
| and getting enough sleep are important | | | | that up to 100,000 police-reported |
| steps toward living a healthy life," | | | | crashes annually involve drowsiness or |
| said Janet Collins, Ph.D., Director, | | | | fatigue as a principal causal factor. |
| National Center for Chronic Disease | | | | "Women who spend less than 7 hours in |
| Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers | | | | bed at night are more likely to doze off |
| for Disease Control and Prevention | | | | during the day, report symptoms of |
| (CDC). "As a leader in public health, | | | | depression, drive drowsy and use coping |
| CDC applauds NSF’s efforts to educate | | | | mechanisms just to make it through their |
| all Americans about the importance of | | | | day," said Kathryn Lee, Ph.D, a member |
| sleep." | | | | of the NSF poll task force. |
| The Sleep in America poll also finds | | | | "Furthermore, women tend to compromise |
| that a lack of a good night's sleep is | | | | the most important aspects of good |
| interfering with a woman's quality of | | | | health -- diet, exercise and sleep - |
| life. Women report that they often | | | | when trying to juggle the day's ongoing |
| choose to put healthy activities last on | | | | responsibilities. Foregoing healthy |
| their priority list as they struggle | | | | lifestyle habits in favor of more time |
| through their daily lives. | | | | during the day is not the solution. In |
| When pressed for time, one-half of the | | | | fact, it can be detrimental to optimum |
| women polled responded that sleep (52%) | | | | health and performance." Dr. Lee is a |
| and exercise (48%) are the first things | | | | Professor of Family Health Care Nursing |
| they sacrifice. Additionally, more than | | | | and the James and Marjorie Livingston |
| one-third of women say they also reduce | | | | Chair in the School of Nursing at the |
| the amount of time they spend with | | | | University of California, San Francisco. |