How sleepy are you? WASHINGTON, DC - Million of Americans are suffering from daytime sleepiness so pervasive that it interferes with their daily activities a 1999 national survey found The second annual "Sleep in America" survey was sponsored by the National Sleep Foundation and conducted through telephone interviews with 1,014 Americans. "This trend in daytime sleepiness should raise concerns among parents, health care professionals, educators, safety experts and employers," says Thomas Roth, Ph.D., Health and Scientific Advisor of the National Sleep Foundation. "Lack of sleep and sleep problems can have serious, life-threatening consequences-not to mention a significant impact on productivity." The Sobering Realities of Daytime Sleepiness According to the poll, 40% of adults say that they are so sleepy during the day that it interferes with their daily activities. Of critical concern is the effect of sleepiness on driving. Drowsy driving causes at least 100,000 crashes in the United States each year, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports. In NSF survey responses, 62% of adults (72% of men and 54% of women) reported driving while feeling drowsy; and 27% (36% of men and 20% of women) said they have dozed off while driving in the past year. School-Age Children, Especially Teens, Are Overtired The NSF poll also found that daytime sleepiness is at an unexpectedly high rate among children at school. According to parent reports, 60% of children under the age of 18 complained of feeling tired during the day, and 15% admitted to falling asleep at school. Teenagers are more likely to complain of being tired during the day than are younger children (23% of teenagers vs. 11% of younger children). Poor Sleep Quality Reported Among Americans The NSF survey found that more than sixty percent of Americans (62%) experience problems sleeping a few nights a week or more. Fifty-six percent of adults report experiencing one or more symptoms of insomnia, including difficulty falling asleep, waking during the night, waking too early, or waking feeling unrefreshed. Smokers and people who use alcohol as a sleep aid are more likely to have problems sleeping. According to the NSF survey, of the 28% who said they smoke, 46% reported experiencing symptoms of insomnia, compared to 35% of nonsmokers. And of the 14% of adults who reported using alcohol to help them sleep, 64% said they wake frequently during the night, compared to 32% of those who never use alcohol as a sleep aid. Also see: Finding solutions to those sleepless nights with a baby