"Education of workers, employers and regulatory agencies regarding sleep needs and the effects of loss of sleep is essential to maintain public safety," said Michael H. Silber, MBChB, president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Sleep deprivation is a common result of occupational demands such as rotating-shift work schedules and lifestyle choices that prevent an individual from getting sufficient sleep.

While daytime sleepiness is the most common effect of sleep deprivation, data report that sleep loss can have severe effects on performance, including poor memory and concentration, impaired cognitive performance, increased errors and slower reaction times.

The consequences of sleep deprivation are a real risk for the more than 20 million Americans who have rotating-shift work schedules such as air traffic controllers. Sleep deprivation significantly increases the risk of motor vehicle accidents as well as work-related injuries and accidents.

One reason these accidents occur more frequently is that sleep-deprived people often underestimate their levels of sleepiness and functional impairment.

"Studies have shown that chronically sleep deprived people believe that they have adapted to their lack of sleep while actually their test performances continue to deteriorate," said Silber.

Although each person has an individual sleep need, most adults require an average of seven to eight hours of sleep each night to feel alert and well rested. Studies show that at least one in five adults reports getting an insufficient amount of sleep.

Research also had linked insufficient sleep to such health problems as high blood pressure, diabetes, depression and obesity.

Anyone who is struggling with severe daytime sleepiness or on-the-job alertness can find help by visiting a board-certified sleep specialist at an AASM-accredited sleep center. A searchable list of accredited centers is online at http://www.sleepcenters.org.

Statistics

• One in five adults report getting insufficient sleep.

• More than 20 million Americans perform shift work.

• Problems falling asleep or daytime sleepiness affect 35 percent to 40 percent of the population.

• Driver sleepiness is related to one in five serious car crash injuries.

• More than 50 million Americans suffer from a chronic sleep disorder.

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The American Academy of Sleep Medicine is the largest professional medical society for clinicians, researchers and other health care providers in the field of sleep medicine. The AASM is committed to promoting excellence in sleep medicine heath care, education and research.