Survey: Hectic Schedules Lead to Sleepless Nation

(Newstream) -- According to a new Roper Starch survey of 1,000 Americans, hectic schedules and busy lives leave Americans little time to sleep. The survey reveals that only 12 percent of Americans say they would change their lives to get more sleep, despite the negative effects of sleeplessness. In fact, nearly one-half of those surveyed said they have trouble sleeping at least one night a week, and almost 40 percent said they feel drowsy and lethargic when they wake up.

"Society pressures people to jam-pack their schedules with careers, families, friends, and hobbies at the expense of sleep," said Thomas Roth, Ph.D., the director of research and division head of the Sleep Disorders and Research Center at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit. "Much like the Type A personality, which is linked to an unhealthy life that leads to coronary heart disease, I see a 'Type S' personality emerging that typifies a behavior pattern that contributes to poor sleep habits."

To educate the public about how to make time for sleep and to encourage people suffering from sleep problems to speak with their doctors, the Sonata® (zaleplon) C-IV Are You a "Type S"? national tour kicked off March 27 in honor of National Sleep Awareness Week.

Who is a "Type S"?

People with what the makers of Sonata call a "Type S" personality are too busy to get the amount of sleep they need every night, and rarely make sleep a priority. Even on nights when they do try to get enough sleep, they may suffer from sleeplessness, which can be caused by the stresses of a busy life. "Type S" people tend to have stressful schedules that are unpredictable; one day they may be on a plane en route to an important business presentation, the next they may be leading their child's scout troop on a hike through the mountains.

This fast-paced, varied way of life leaves many Americans struggling to find time for their activities, but not for sleep, according to the survey:

	More than two-thirds of the Americans surveyed said they would like to have a longer day, so they could accomplish more.
	Most would prefer to have 6.6 more hours in a day, not just an extra hour or two, to do additional activities such as volunteer work or take care of children at home.
	Nearly half of those surveyed said they often are too busy to eat lunch.
	More than half said they usually get to work early, and half said they leave work late.
	One out of four surveyed (25 percent) had trouble sleeping at least three nights per week.

However, only 12 percent of those surveyed said they would get more sleep if they could, even though 96 percent said they would like to make a change in their schedule. Rather than making sleep a priority, most Americans squeeze it in whenever they can by sleeping late on the weekends (44 percent), taking a nap during the day (41 percent), or going to bed early on weeknights (35 percent).

"Despite the serious health effects due to lack of sleep, people are not changing their behaviors or making the choice to get enough sleep," said Dr. Roth. "People do not want to sacrifice their activities in order to get the right amount of sleep, resulting in a country filled with tired, irritable and sometimes unproductive people."

A Sleepless Nation

People who display "Type S" characteristics have difficulty sleeping at least twice a week. Because of their unpredictable schedules and stress-filled lives, their symptoms may vary. Sometimes they may have trouble simply falling asleep at bedtime or later, after trying to fall asleep on their own. Often people toss and turn most of the night worrying about the next day's events. To make matters worse, they may travel frequently or have erratic schedules that cause them to go to bed at different times each night.

"I'm an elementary school teacher who is also working toward my Ph.D. and training for a marathon," said Jenny Deane. "I have different types of sleep problems. One night I can't fall asleep because I'm worrying about parent/teacher conferences the next day; the next night I won't get to bed until 1 or 2 o'clock in the morning because I'm working on my dissertation."

"Type S" National Tour

To help sleepless Americans find out if they fit the "Type S" characteristics, the Are You a "Type S"? national tour debuted March 27 in Times Square in New York City. There, people had a chance to take a computerized 10-question screening test to find out if they fit the "Type S" profile. At each of the cities along the tour, a local doctor will be available for free consultations about how to make the most of a night's sleep.

The "Type S" truck will have information to help people get a better night's rest, such as the following tips from the National Sleep Foundation:

	Make a list of what you need to do the next day before going to bed.
	Listen to gentle music.
	Consider dark window coverings.

The tour will provide information about the role of a sleep medication, such as Sonata, which has been shown to help people with occasional sleeplessness get the sleep they need -- when they need it -- provided that they remain in bed for four or more hours before becoming active again.

"While different people have different sleep problems in a given night, people should consider the benefits of a sleep medication that can be tailored to individual patients' needs," said Dr. Roth. "Because Sonata can be taken at bedtime or later after a person has tried to fall asleep on his or her own, it may be useful for many 'Type S' people whose symptoms and schedules vary from one night to the next."

The Sonata Are You a "Type S"? national tour, sponsored by Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories, a division of American Home Products Corporation (NYSE: AHP), kicked off March 27 to help Americans learn the importance of getting a good night's sleep and how Sonata can help. The tour will visit New York, Atlanta, Miami, New Orleans, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Dallas, Seattle, Minneapolis, and Chicago. The tour also can be followed online at www.sonatasleep.com.