Results from new Sleep Survey shows many Americans have problems falling and staying asleep.

From October 20 - 22 2014, the popular NBC television show "Today" conducted a survey among a nationally representative sample of 1,092 U.S. adults aged 18 and older, using a questionnaire focused on self-reported behavior and attitudes toward sleep. The study was fielded by Survey Sampling International, an independent research company based in Connecticut.
The study found that  61 percent of the survey participants reporting problems falling and staying asleep, and eighty percent of people who don’t get adequate sleep report experiencing more stress about finances with 74 percent becoming more worried about their health.

Among other issues, the study found that 32 percent of 18-to-34-year-olds say work makes them fret throughout the night, with 31 percent reporting that their children cause sleepless nights. Overall, 42 percent of people with a child under 18 reported inadequate sleep.

Modern electronic devices can have a serious impact on sleep quality, for multiple reasons. Physically, the blue light emitted by the screens of devices such as mobile phones and tablets mimics daylight and can interrupt our circadian rhythms; it's also known to suppress production of a brain chemical called melatonin, which helps us sleep. But more importantly, using the internet or texting before trying to sleep overstimulates the brain. Nonetheless, the survey reported that people still regularly watch TV and keep their phones at hand when they should be trying to fall asleep:

• 51 percent of people have TV remote within reach
• 50 percent of people have their smartphones within reach
• 23 percent of people have a computer within reach
• 21 percent of people have a tablet within reach

Seventy-seven percent of participants 35-49 said they watched TV right before bed, with almost two-thirds of 18-34-year-olds using their smartphones before sleep: only 1 in 5 adults claimed to sleep without any of these devices within reach.

The reported issues related to sleep problems included:

• Overall 29 percent had difficulty concentrating; among 18 to 34-year-olds that number increased to 39 percent
• 23 percent had difficulty performing daily chores
• 19 percent had lost interest in hobbies or leisure activities
• 16 percent reported falling asleep at inappropriate times during the day
• 16 percent experienced short tempers or inappropriate behavior with children or partners, with 13 percent reporting short tempers or inappropriate behavior at work.

Healthy sleep is vital to our well-being. For more information on how you can get a better night's rest, see our sleep hygiene recommendations or contact us if you're having serious problems with sleep.

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Source:
Why can't we sleep? TODAY 'Snooze or Lose' survey results may surprise you; Meghan Holohan, November 09 2014