Poll results show Americans are experiencing a 'great divide' when it comes to healthy sleep, with half of respondents reporting they sleep well and the other half experiencing problems sleeping. Lack of sleep is associated with serious health problems, such as an increased risk of depression, obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

"Insomnia is a condition that is under-recognized, under-diagnosed, and as a result, under-treated," said Richard L. Gelula, NSF's Chief Executive Officer. "Our new 'Sleep in America' poll shows that more than one-half of respondents experienced a symptom of insomnia such as trouble falling asleep, waking during the night or waking up feeling unrefreshed."

More Than a Nuisance

"People think that insomnia is a nuisance rather than a serious health problem," said Amy Niles, President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Women's Health Resource Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping women make informed decisions about their health.

"As a result of a poor night's sleep, many people go through their days suffering the effects of fatigue and unable to focus on the tasks at hand. If they continue to ignore their sleeping problem, quality of life can suffer and serious health problems may arise. There is an urgent need to improve communication about sleep quality and quantity between the healthcare community and the public."

Great Sleep Divide

Forum participants discussed their practical experiences and those of their constituents, as well as key clinical findings about sleep and insomnia. They also reviewed data from NSF's 2005 "Sleep in America" poll.

The poll results, released Monday, show Americans are experiencing a "great divide" when it comes to healthy sleep, with half of respondents reporting they sleep well and the other half experiencing problems sleeping. This information, coupled with data from recent studies associating lack of sleep with serious health problems, such as an increased risk of depression, obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, prompted the S.O.S. Forum's statement.

Part of this statement calls for the public to become proactive about addressing their sleep during visits to their healthcare providers. The statement also suggests keeping a sleep diary or using an insomnia assessment tool to track their sleep habits and help diagnosis of a sleep problem.

Serious but Very Treatable Condition

"While trouble sleeping is not what usually sends patients to their doctor or healthcare professional, it is one of the most frequent complaints patients have when asked about it," said Russell Rosenberg, Ph.D., Director of both the Northside Hospital Sleep Medicine Institute in Atlanta, Georgia, and the Atlanta School of Sleep Medicine.

"Insomnia is a serious, but very treatable condition, and appears to be reaching epidemic proportions. We encourage patients to proactively address sleep with their healthcare providers and use behavioral, environmental and pharmaceutical treatment options to improve their sleep habits," Rosenberg said.

Women, Aging Adults Especially Vulnerable

Chaired by NSF, the S.O.S. Forum members include representatives from leading health organizations that represent the constituencies for which insomnia is a common concern.

Among them are healthcare providers who often treat sleep disorders and groups whose patient populations frequently suffer from the symptoms of insomnia, such as women and aging adults.

Members include representatives from the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), American Medical Women's Association (AMWA), National Women's Health Resource Center (NWHRC), National Mental Health Association (NMHA), PRIME PLUS/Red Hot Mamas and Dr. Rosenberg.