FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Don't Find Yourself "Sleepless and Misssin' the Kissin' this Mother's Day"

The National Sleep Foundation and the Endeavor Center for Sleep Medicine Say Women Are Less Likely Than Men to Say “I had a good night’s sleep”

Mequon, WI, April 28, 2005 -- Breakfast in bed is one way to treat moms this Mother’s Day, but many families may want to give an even greater indulgence: let mom sleep in on May 8, or let her take a nap to catch up on needed rest.

In recent National Sleep Foundation (NSF) polls, women have reported that they need more sleep than men, but they often don’t get it. In addition, sleep researchers say that women and men sleep differently, and that women’s sleep is often disrupted by biological conditions such as their menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause, and by changing levels of hormones throughout their lives that have an impact on sleep. NSF’s 2005 Sleep in America poll released last month shows that women are more likely than men to get less sleep than they need to function at their best (24% vs. 19%). As mothers, women may have added sleep disruptions because of their roles in the family.

“Many mothers have lifestyles that can make it hard to get a good night’s sleep,” says Veronica N. Sosa, M.D., a Sleep Specialist at the Endeavor Center for Sleep Medicine, “They are often the primary caregivers in the home and the first to wake up with infants to feed, or children or loved ones who may be sick. More women are working outside the home than ever before, yet they often continue to be responsible for organizing meals, housework and homework. Being a mom can carry with it all sorts of stresses that lead to sleepless or restless nights,” says Veronica N. Sosa, M.D. NSF’s 2004 Sleep in America poll showed that one-half of parents and/or caregivers have their sleep disturbed an average of twice a week because a child awakens them during the night; these people are most likely to be women.

‘Sleepless and Missin’ the Kissin’ identifies one type of ‘problem’ sleeper identified by NSF in this year’s poll; women make up 74% of this population group. Overall, 15% of America’s adults, or 31 million people, are ‘Sleepless and Missin’ the Kissin’. “It wasn’t surprising to us, knowing the problems associated with women’s sleep, that they make up a big part of the group that is least likely to report getting a good night’s sleep,” said Barbara A. Phillips, MD, MSPH, a Sleep Specialist at the University of Kentucky/Samaritan Hospital, Lexington, co-chair of NSF’s 2005 poll task force and NSF Director. “They are also more likely than others to say that their sleep disorders – or those of their partner – have caused problems in their relationship, and that their intimate relationship has been affected by being too sleepy.

Those in the ‘Sleepless and Missin’ the Kissin’ group see the negative effects of their sleep habits in many aspects of their daily lives: nearly half feel tired, fatigued, or not up to par nearly every day, more than half have missed events or activities and/or made errors at work because they are too sleepy, and they are more likely than others to have trouble falling asleep, taking, on average, more than 45 minutes.

According to the poll, women are also more likely than men to experience some symptom of insomnia: they have more trouble falling asleep (26% vs.17% of men), are awake more often during the night (35% vs. 28%), and are more likely to wake up too early and can’t get back to sleep (24% vs. 19%).

“We want to encourage mothers to pay attention to their sleep,” says Veronica N. Sosa, M.D. “Too little sleep can affect the whole family, and may negatively impact a mother’s health and quality of life,” he said. “Sleep is a vital sign of good health, and should be proactively addressed and managed, much like diet and exercise. For those with sleep problems, we encourage them to discuss their symptoms with a doctor. We want moms to get a good night’s sleep, so that they feel refreshed, energetic and vibrant on their special day, and throughout the year.”

The National Sleep Foundation and Veronica N. Sosa, M.D. offer the following sleep tips for moms and other women:

  • Take a hot bath or soak in a hot tub before bedtime, or try meditation or yoga to relax.
  • Make sure your bedroom is dark, cool and quiet. 68 degrees is best.
  • Use your bedroom only for sleep and sex, and sleep on a comfortable mattress and pillows.
  • Try to have a standard relaxing bedtime routine and keep regular sleep times. A regular bedtime and wake time help you body “know” when it is time to sleep.
  • Exercise regularly. Exercise can relieve some PMS symptoms and increase the amount of deep sleep.
  • Avoid caffeine and alcohol before bedtime. Both may disturb sleep, and caffeine can also contribute to premenstrual bloating. Nicotine should be avoided entirely; it may also make it difficult to fall asleep and can cause fragmented sleep.

Additional information about women and sleep is available at NSF’s newly redesigned Web site, www.sleepfoundation.org.

The National Sleep Foundation is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to improving public health and safety by achieving understanding of sleep and sleep disorders, and by supporting sleep-related education, research and advocacy.

The Endeavor Center for Sleep Medicine works with the National Sleep Foundation as a Community Sleep Awareness Partner to educate people about the importance of sleep and the treatment of sleep disorders.

Contact
Karen Block
Phone: 262-241-8022
Email: karenb@endeavortherapy.com