This document describes the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research. The National Center on Sleep Disorders Research was established by law in June 1993 to combat a serious public health problem. The Center seeks to improve the health of Americans by supporting research, training, and education about sleep disorders.
Sleep problems affect men and women of every age, race, and socioeconomic class.
Despite this widespread prevalence, most cases remain undiagnosed and untreated. Additional costs to society for such consequences as lost worker productivity and accidents have never been calculated. Moreover, the contribution of sleep disorders to such serious problems as heart disease and stroke, which kill and debilitate thousands each year, has not been quantified. A Wide Spectrum Sleep disorders and disturbances of sleep comprise a broad range of problems. Even a partial list adds up to 70 conditions.