Twenty-four percent say that disturbed sleep gets in the way of caring for their families. Half of all women have driven while drowsy, and 14 percent have dozed off at the wheel during the past year. Almost a third, or 31 percent, say they use caffeine beverages, and OTC and prescription drugs to help them stay awake. This study should be a wake-up call for American women. Too many women are running on empty.
Help is available.
Founded in 1990, the NSF is a nonprofit organization that promotes public understanding of sleep and sleep disorders and supports sleep-related education, research and advocacy to improve public health and safety. The NSF produces and distributes educational materials to the public and healthcare professionals and offers postdoctoral fellowships and grants in sleep. The Women and Sleep program was made possible by an educational grant from Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories.