The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention released new data showing that Americans don't get enough sleep, just in time for National Sleep Awareness week, which starts Monday. This is data many of us, including the Prospect staff will likely not be surprised to hear.
A 12-state telephone survey of nearly 75,000 people found that more than one-third of them had slept less than 7 hours the night before they were buttonholed by the government questioners. And 38 percent said they had fallen asleep without meaning to during at least one day in the previous month.
Why is this important? As NPR points out, many of the adults surveyed admitted they'd fallen asleep at the wheel. But more than dangerous drivers, a nation that doesn't sleep is a workforce that is probably more likely to get sick and have trouble concentrating at school or work. Time to start a national campaign to sleep more.
