Abstract

Based on the National Sleep Foundation Sleep in America polls, which encompassed snapshots of sleep habits and symptoms, the number of people reporting sleep problems is increasing. Over a span of 8 years, the percentage of Americans sleeping less than 6 hours per night went up to 1/5 of the population, and those who reported sleeping 8 hours or more dropped to approximately 1/4 of the population. More than half of people reported experiencing a sleep problem at least a few nights in week, with 4 out of 10 reporting problems every night. However, only 1/3 of all adults have ever discussed sleep with a healthcare professional; when they seek medical advice, almost half of them are found with a sleep disorder.