So why is sleep so important?

Although we naturally think of sleep as a time of rest and recovery from the stresses of everyday life, research is revealing that sleep is a dynamic activity, during which time many processes vital to health and well-being take place. We have to sleep because it is essential in maintaining normal levels of cognitive skills such as speech, memory, innovative and flexible thinking. Evidence shows that sleep is also important in helping maintain mood, and plays a pivotal role in the normal function of the endocrine and immune systems. In fact, studies show a growing link between poor sleep and a variety of serious health problems, including obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and depression.

It is not an exaggeration to say that some of the most pressing problems we face as a society may be linked to poor sleep. Drowsiness in sleep-deprived drivers is the likely cause of more than 100,000 crashes, 71,000 injuries and over 1,500 deaths each year. In addition, sleep disorders are estimated to cost Americans over $100 billion annually in lost productivity, medical expenses, sick leave, and property and environmental damage. On a personal level, we all know how miserable we feel after a night of poor sleep.

Despite the fact that around 238 millions worldwide report having sleep problems, more than 60 percent of adults have never been asked about the quality of their sleep by a physician, and fewer than 20 percent ever initiated a discussion about it. Clearly, the impact of sleep on health and well being is under-recognized. However, the growing body of knowledge about the complex structure, function, and mechanisms of sleep, as well as the consequences when sleep is lost or disturbed, should serve as a wake-up call for making sleep a public health priority.