NEW YORK - Over 50 percent of American women are finding it difficult to function normally due to lack of proper sleep, says a poll by the National Sleep Foundation. The worst sufferers are stay-at-home mothers, who have trouble leading a healthy life and even having sex.
The poll called "Sleep in America" found that 74 percent of the women polled said they suffered sleeplessness on some days a week, while another 59 percent said they were drowsy even after sleeping for sometime.
The poll involved 1,003 women ages of 18-64 and was intended to bring the focus on the nature of the problem. Some 39 percent of the women polled said they had stopped spending time with family and friends, while 37 percent were unable to eat healthily. A further 33 percent admitted to have stopped having sex. Sleep and exercise were the first activities sacrificed by women pressed for time, the survey added.
The poll also found that women did not shut shop and go to sleep early. Around 87 percent watched television an hour before going to sleep, while 37 percent indulged in other activities.
"American women are struggling to cope with this lack of sleep," said a statement released by Kathryn Lee, of the National Sleep Foundation (NSF). "Women's lack of sleep affects virtually every aspect of their time-pressed lives, leaving them late for work, stressed out, too tired for sex and little time for their friends."
Some 65 percent women take to coffee or caffeinated beverages to get their day going, the poll said. "Foregoing healthy lifestyle habits in favour of more time during the day is not the solution. In fact, it can be detrimental to optimum health and performance," Lee said.
