Too Groggy To Spring Forward?

Chicago - March 5, 2008 - If recent sleep surveys are any indication, the hour lost as clocks are adjusted for Daylight Saving Time this Sunday will affect us more than we might imagine.

A recent screening of Chicago-area residents conducted for the National Safety Council shows that 67 percent of respondents report difficulty waking, feeling "unrefreshed" or losing more than 30 minutes of sleep from not sleeping through the night. This number, along with high prevalence of insomnia, sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome, revealed via the Glidewell Rapid Sleep Screen conducted in February, should serve as a wake-up call for all Americans.

With Chicagoans sleeping on average 6.4 hours per night and with the looming clock change, Dr. Thomas Roth, PhD, the advisory board chair of The Big Sleep Show, the first-ever consumer health expo dedicated to sleep and alertness, scheduled in Rosemont, Ill., May 9 - 10, offers advice to help people achieve healthy, regular sleep patterns.

"It's important to evaluate your sleep habits on your own or with a sleep medicine professional," said Dr. Roth, who directs the Sleep Disorders and Research Center at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. "There are clear signs that people are sleep deprived."
Are you getting enough sleep?

"Ask yourself if you sleep longer on weekends than on weekdays, if you need more than three cups of coffee to get going, if you sleep less than six and a half hours per night, if you can fall asleep anytime and anywhere, and if you have an Epworth score greater than 10," he said.

The Epworth Sleepiness Scale, designed by Dr. Murray Johns of Epworth Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, evaluates people's "chance of dozing" by asking simple questions about level of fatigue at various times.
Getting a better night's sleep

"There are many ways to improve sleep quality and ensure greater alertness during the day," added Dr. Roth. "Limiting time in bed for sleep and sex, rising and going to bed the same time every night, avoiding alcohol and caffeine in the evening, and with difficulty falling asleep, refraining from napping during the day are ways to improve overall health."

These issues and many others will be addressed at seminars, workshops and exhibits at The Big Sleep Show, occurring at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont.

Presentations will cover insomnia, sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome, along with major ailments found to have direct links to sleep problems, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, depression and obesity. Other sessions also will promote everyday sleep wellness, including topics such as enhancing sleep environments, relaxation therapy and nutrition. Sleep and alertness issues related to women, new parents and seniors also will be covered.

A special Work & Fatigue Conference seminar on May 9 for business owners and corporate human resource, safety/risk and wellness managers, will address workplace issues such as drowsy driving, shift work safety, napping and the latest developments and best practices to create a safe and productive workplace.

In addition, representatives from prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceutical companies will join sleep health providers and makers of bedding, medical equipment, energy drinks/supplements and sleepwear to demonstrate the latest innovations developed to help consumers improve the quality of their sleep and address sleep problems.

Tickets for The Big Sleep Show go on sale online beginning March 15 at www.thebigsleepshow.com. Prices for a general admission two-day pass are $7 and $5 for a one-day pass. Prices for seniors are $5 and $3. Tickets may be purchased at the door for $2 more. The Work & Fatigue Seminar is priced at $65 and includes lunch plus general admission.

NOTE TO MEDIA
The Glidewell Rapid Sleep Screen for the National Safety Council surveyed 108 working Chicago-area residents in a five-day period from February 21, 2008 to February 26, 2008.

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