In 1993, the U.S. National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research reported that the medical, economic and social toll of sleep disorders, sleep deprivation and sleepiness is staggering. The consequences include impaired performance, reduced productivity, increased risk of accidents, deteriorating health and a marked decline in the overall quality of life. More than 10 million Americans are victims of a serious breathing disorder called Sleep Apnea. Hundreds of thousands of Americans experience bouts of irresistible sleepiness during the day as a result of a sleep disorder known as narcolepsy. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that more than 100,000 crashes are related to driving while drowsy.
Thousands die on U.S. highways each year because someone fell asleep at the wheel.
Along with a myriad of sleep disorders, sleep problems associated with growing older, irregular work schedules and lifestyle pressures take their toll on individual lives and society as a whole. The majority of sleep disorders sufferers in the U.S. remain undiagnosed and untreated. The National Sleep Foundation seeks public and private funding to support research, education, training and information programs. Towards the Cause of Narcolepsy program to encourage research with the National Narcolepsy Registry, workshops and research fellowships Sleep and Pain program to raise awareness about sleep problems, accompanying pain, their diagnostics and treatment Publications designed to inform and educate primary care physicians on the diagnosis and treatment of sleep problems. Educational symposia for physicians in major cities across the U.S. on specific sleep disorders.