Announcement: National Sleep Awareness Week — March 5–11, 2012

During March 5–11, 2012, National Sleep Awareness Week will be observed in the United States. The National Sleep Foundation recommends that U.S. adults receive, on average, 7–9 hours of sleep per night (1); however, 37.1% of adults report regularly sleeping <7 hours per night (2).

Persons reporting sleeping <7 hours on average during a 24-hour interval are more likely to report unintentionally falling asleep during the day at least 1 day out of the preceding 30 days (46.2% compared with 33.2%) and nodding off or falling asleep at the wheel during the previous 30 days (7.3% compared with 3.0%) (3). Frequent insufficient sleep (14 or more days in the past 30 days) also has been associated with self-reported anxiety, depressive symptoms, and frequent mental and physical distress (4).

Such findings suggest the need for greater awareness of the importance of sufficient sleep. Further information about factors relevant to optimal sleep can be obtained from the National Sleep Foundation (http://www.sleepfoundation.org) and CDC (http://www.cdc.gov/sleep).

References

1. National Sleep Foundation. How much sleep do we really need? Arlington, VA: National Sleep Foundation; 2011. Available at http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/how-sleep-works/how-much-sleep-do-we-really-need. Accessed February 24, 2012.
2. CDC. Effect of short sleep duration on daily activities—United States, 2005–2008. MMWR 2011;60:239–42.
3. CDC. Unhealthy sleep-related behaviors—12 states, 2009. MMWR 2011;60:233–8.
4. Strine TW, Chapman DP. Associations of frequent sleep insufficiency with health-related quality of life and health behaviors. Sleep Med 2005;6:23–7.