Are You Too Sleepy To Read This?

Southerners have the most trouble sleeping and are the most likely to feel tired during the day. That's according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine that analyzed sleep problems state-to-state. Thirty-three percent of adults in West Virginia and Mississippi and 25% in Arkansas and Louisiana felt daytime fatigue. Twenty-six percent of West Virginians also slept badly. In the Midwest sleep disturbances were mixed – 25% of the people in Oklahoma and 17% in Minnesota. Californians were among the best rested – 17% had sleep problems and 18% experienced daytime fatigue. Maybe Californians aren't "laid-back" – maybe they're asleep.

Sleepiness may cause us to eat more. Research presented to the American Heart Association asked 17 people ages 18-40 to record their eating and sleeping patterns for 3 days at home and 8 days in a lab. Half were allowed to sleep two-thirds of their normal sleep time and half slept their full amount. All were allowed to eat as much as they wanted. Those who got one-third less sleep ate about 549 extra calories daily. Since that amount of extra calories could result in a weight gain of 1 pound weekly, we should "wake up to" the need for sleep.

Sleep apnea may cause depression. Sleep apnea is a breathing disorder that causes frequent sleep disruptions. According to a study published in the journal Sleep, men diagnosed with sleep apnea were 2 times likelier than other men to be clinically depressed. Women were 5 times likelier than other women. Although 6% of men and 3% of women have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, more than 80% of the people who reported the classic symptoms – snorting or gasping for breath – hadn't been diagnosed. Nevertheless, there is good news. Snorers didn't test positive for depression  – although their partners might.

Sleepiness is a big problem for airline pilots. In a study by the National Sleep Foundation, 25% of 202 pilots surveyed said sleepiness had affected their job performance at least weekly. More than 50% said they took at least 1 nap on workdays. Twenty percent said they had made a serious mistake because of sleepiness and 6% said they'd had a car accident due to sleepiness while commuting. As of December 2011 the Federal Aviation Association issued new rules limiting pilot-duty time. Because the airlines have 2 years to implement these rules, I hope the airlines don't "fall asleep on the job".