March 3, 2008

It is National Sleep Awareness Week. A new study shows more people are snoozing on the job. That's because we just are not getting enough sleep.

Being sleepy at work can lead to problems concentrating or with productivity, but there are some other problems associated with not getting enough sleep.

Most people need between seven and eight hours of sleep every night. A new poll from the National Sleep Foundation shows we're only getting about six and half hours on weekdays.

The study highlights the link between working tired and poor performance.

Assistant Professor of Medicine at UVa, Dr. Cynthia Brown says, "About one in three workers report that sleepiness prevents them from being productive at work. This includes problems concentrating, difficulty completing their tasks and they report this is happening several days a week."

Complicating it further, many drive drowsy. The time to commute to work is increasing for many. One in three people say they've fallen asleep while driving.

In some situations, driving while fatigued can be just as serious as driving drunk. Dr. Brown says the best way to get a good night’s sleep is to create a good sleep space. A dark, cool room helps.

If you're getting seven or more good hours of solid sleep and you're still tired, then you might be dealing with more than just being sleepy.

"Some symptoms of a true sleep disorder are if you're having trouble staying awake during work and find yourself drifting off when you perform activities that require concentration," Dr. Brown says.

As far as fixing the problem of workplace fatigue, there is one solution that many might be happy to hear about.

Dr. Brown says, "Some employers are actually allowing employees to take naps on their breaks because they find it actually increases productivity."

Dr. Brown adds that a lack of sleep can be associated with health problems like high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes.