Sleep Slump Coming

When clocks "spring forward" for Daylight Savings Time the first Sunday in April, most U.S. adults and children lose an hour of sleep, which adds to their sleep deficit.

Sleep expert, Dr. James B. Maas, of Cornell University and author of book "Power Sleep," says millions of Americans suffer from loss of sleep.

"Even a loss of an hour a day can severely impact their daily lives," said Maas. "The good news is, by following some simple steps they can be on the road to achieving an uninterrupted, restful night of sleep."

The 2005 National Sleep Foundation conducted a "Sleep in America" poll and found that 71 percent of American adults are getting less than 8 hours of sleep per weeknight. Adults require 7 to 9 hours, and childrens sleep needs will vary by age, but should get at least 10 hours of sleep per night for older children. As a general rule, most people probably need one more hour than they are currently getting of sleep, according to Maas.

Maas advises people to go to bed at the same time each night, make up for lost sleep, stop smoking, get exercise and keep mentally stimulated during the day. Lack of sleep can cause a whole host of problems, like high blood pressure, obesity, sleep apnea, and an increase of daytime fatigue. Combine that with driving to high-pressure jobs, and it is no wonder that driving to work can be quite dangerous.