Assessing Your Health: Sleep May Be More Important Than You Think (NAPSA)—If counting sheep is not working for you, here are some facts you may want to sleep on— chronic sleep deprivation can do more than make you tired. It can significantly affect your health, safety, performance, andlifestyle. Most people are surprised to learn that sleeping less than six or seven hours a night can increase their mortality risk more than smoking, high blood pressure or heart disease. Losingaslittle as one and a half hours of sleep for just one night could result in a reduction of daytime alertness by as much as 32 percent. This loss can impair memory and the ability to think and process informationeffectively. Decreased alertness can also affect your life by limiting your participation in activities that require sustained attention, such as reading a book or watching your favorite TV show. And the risk of receiving an occupational injury more than doubles when a personis sleepy. Car accidents are another problem. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates conservatively that each year drowsy driving is responsible for at least 100,000 automobiles crashed, 71,000 injuries and 1,550 tute and Clinic, “they should seek medical attention from a specialist who is trained to diagnose or perhaps just rule out depression or bipolar disorder.” The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) has launched a new Website, www. Let your doctor know about any sleep problems you may have since they could be symptomsof a physical or mental condition. fatalities. As many as 70 million Americans have sleep disturbances— which include taking a long time to get to sleep, sleeping less and waking up frequently. Sleep disturbances may in fact be a symptom of a much larger problem, especially if they are associated with irritability and mood swings. Emotional stress, racing thoughts and restlessness can be signs of something more serious, such as bipolar disorder. “If someone is experiencing restlessness and irritability, along with sadness or emotional ups and downs for more than two weeks,” said Dr. Ellen Frank, professor of psychiatry and psychology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the Western Psychiatric Insti- sleeplessinamerica.org, which offers educational resources that provide screening for sleeplessness, information on whento see a doctor and a questionnaire to determine whensleeplessness might be symptomatic of a more serious illness. The Website is also available in Spanish. For additional information on depression and bipolar disorder, as well as confidential self-screeners for both illnesses, visit DBSA’s site at www.dbsalliance.org or call (800) 826-3632. DBSAis a patient-directed advocacy organization for depression and bipolar disorder with more than 1,000 peer-run support groups nationwide. The organization’s mission is to improve the lives of people living with mood disorders. Assisted by a 65-memberScientific Advisory Board comprised of the top researchers and clinicians in the field of mood disorders, the organization helps more than four million people each year.
