But in our increasingly busy society, we often feel that sleep is a luxury, not a necessity. The fact remains that we need six to eight hours of sleep each night. The American Sleep Disorders Association estimates that 100 million Americans regularly fail to get a good night's sleep. For instance, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 50,000 police-reported automobile accidents can be linked to drowsiness. Sleep apnea, narcolepsy, periodic leg movements and insomnia are just a few of the many disorders that can rob us of the sleep we need.
Sleep disorders can be especially frustrating because they often go undiagnosed.