Thursday, January 22, 2009

Sleep deprivation is rampant

A large proportion of the American population is sleep deprived. Partially due to the high paced lifestyle we live but also because of a variety of sleep disorders. Many people are unaware that they may have a medical condition causing their sleep deprivation. Think you might be sleep deprived?

The EPWORTH SLEEPINESS SCALE is a great evaluation tool.
In contrast to just feeling tired, how likely are you to doze off or fall asleep in the following situations? Use the following scale to choose the most appropriate number for each situation.

0 = Would never doze
1 = Slight chance of dozing
2 = Moderate chance of dozing
3 = High chance of dozing


Situation Chance of Dozing


Sitting and Reading _________

Watching TV _________

Sitting inactive in a public place (i.e. theatre) _________

As a car passenger for an hour without a break _________

Lying down to rest in the afternoon _________

Sitting and talking to someone _________

Sitting quietly after lunch without alcohol _________

In a car, while stopping for a few minutes in traffic _________

A score of greater than 10 is a definite cause for concern as it indicates significant excessive daytime sleepiness. *

* These results should be reviewed with your primary Doctor.

For more information regarding sleep deprivation go to http://www.sleepnet.com/disorder.htm