Daytime Sleepiness Becoming Pervasive.

• Position: Brief Article

Millions of Americans are suffering from daytime sleepiness so pervasive that it interferes with their daily activities, maintains Thomas Roth, health and science advisor, National Sleep Foundation (NSF). "This trend in daytime sleepiness should raise concerns among parents, health care professionals, educators, safety experts, and employers. Lack of sleep and sleep problems can have serious, life-threatening consequences [as well as] a significant impact on productivity."

According to the foundation's "1999 Sleep in America" poll, 40% of adults say they. are so sleepy during the day that it interferes with their daily activities. Of critical concern is the effect of sleepiness on driving. Drowsy drivers cause at least 100,000 crashes in the U.S. each year, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports. In NSF survey responses, 72% of men and 54% of women reported driving while feeling drowsy, while 36% of males and 20% of females said they have dozed off while driving in the past year.

The poll also found that daytime sleepiness is at an unexpectedly high rate among children at school. According to parent reports, 60% of children under the age of 18 complained of feeling tired during the day, and 15% admitted to falling asleep at school...