Sleep disorders continue to plague Americans; in fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has gone far to say that insufficient sleep is now a public health epidemic. Over 30 to 35 percent of adults in the United States have brief symptoms of insomnia, while 15 to 20 percent have short-term insomnia disorder, lasting for less than three months.
These alarming sleep disorder rates have brought about a new documentary about sleep in America, entitled "Sleepless in America", a film that explores "the crucial need for sleep and the potential for serious health and safety risks for people who regularly get insufficient or poor quality sleep". The film is a joint project between the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Geographic Channel and The Public Good Projects. It is set to premiere this coming November 30, 2014
The NIH has also provided recommendations on how to have a good night's sleep, included in their advocacy/educational material entitled "Your Guide to Healthy Sleep":
-Stick to a sleep schedule. Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day. As creatures of habit, people have a hard time adjusting to changes in sleep patterns. Sleeping later on weekends won't fully make up for a lack of sleep during the week and will make it harder to wake up early on Monday morning.
-Exercise is great, but not too late in the day. Try to exercise at least 30 minutes on most days but not later than 2-3 hours before your bedtime.
-Avoid caffeine and nicotine. Coffee, colas, certain teas, and chocolate contain the stimulant caffeine, and its effects can take as long as 8 hours to wear off fully. Therefore, a cup of coffee in the late afternoon can make it hard for you to fall asleep at night. Nicotine is also a stimulant, often causing smokers to sleep only very lightly. In addition, smokers often wake up too early in the morning because of nicotine withdrawal.