Resource Corner

Attention Insomniacs and Somnambulists!

Ever wonder why you sleep, or why you don’t do your best when you don’t get enough sleep? Biomedical researchers have only recently begun to understand how important sleep is to human health and functioning. Now, the latest, most accurate information on sleep and sleep disorders is available online at www.nhlbi.nih.gov/about/ncsdr, a new Web site from the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research.

Sleep-related problems affect millions of Americans, occur in all age groups, and have a major impact on society. They are common in teens, shift workers, and people over age 65. There are more than 70 different sleep disorders, and they often lead to or are associated with other health problems, lost worker productivity, and accidents, including approximately 56,000 automobile crashes each year.