Sleep refreshes us like nothing else. It can be occasionally elusive, almost always comforting, and definitely essential to our survival. And although we spend 33% of our lives asleep, we barely give it a moment's notice....until we can't sleep. Then we think about it to the point of obsession.

For millions of people, the consequences of a poor night's sleep – higher stress, increased mistakes, difficulty concentrating – are every day occurrences. But it doesn't have to be this way.

Stress and Sleep in America

According to the second annual Better Sleep Council Stress Survey conducted in May 2003, 66% of Americans are losing sleep due to stress, up from 51% last year. The number one source of stress that keeps Americans tossing and turning? Family matters, with 22% of survey respondents citing issues close to home as the reason they are kept awake at night. Job related concerns and financial matters were also a source for worry among 19% and 13% of individuals surveyed respectively, and only 5% of Americans are kept awake by current events in the news.

This year's Better Sleep Council Stress Survey found that 17% of Americans are losing sleep at least three nights a week, with most (49%) losing sleep only a few nights a month. According to Dr. Louis Libby, pulmonologist and Medical Director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Providence Portland Medical Center, losing sleep due to stress one or two nights a week generally will not impact an individual's ability to perform. However, loss of sleep three or four days in a row will impact performance.

During Better Sleep Month in May 2003, the Better Sleep Council reminded sleep-deprived Americans that starting each day with a good night's sleep and taking control of their sleep environment can effectively reduce stress and improve their quality of life. And while there's much that Americans are not able to control when it comes to causing stress, the BSC reminds consumers what they can do to control their sleep environment and increase their chances of getting a better night sleep.