Something Extra: Struggling To Sleep
MIAMI (CBS4) - F. Scott Fitzgerald said, "the worst thing in the world is to try to sleep and not to."
Unfortunately, a lot of Americans are suffering from that worst thing in the world, according to a major new study, published in the journal Lancet.
And experts are saying sleep deprivation could be the most important overlooked public health issue facing us today.
The study shows a quarter of Americans are unhappy with the sleep they get and one in ten suffer from full-fledged insomnia.
The consequences are frightening: lack of sleep leads to five times more depression and anxiety, more illness, including higher cancer rates, more substance abuse and more obesity.
Insomniacs also have twice the risk of congestive heart failure.
Making matters worse, sleep disorders are often undiagnosed and untreated.
The good news is that treatment is possible, but not all doctors are properly trained to address the issues.
A wise old saying says a good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures. But it sure is hard to have a good laugh if so many of us aren't getting a long sleep.
