WHY ARE WE STILL AWAKE? Blogger:Being Sane Takes Too Much Work

Only 11% of Americans in 1942 slept 6 hours or less. By 2013, the number increased to 40%. Americans are getting an hour less sleep, on average, per night than we once did. According to the National Institutes of Health, 70 million adults suffer from sleep difficulties. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common of all the disorders that cause many problems for older adults. Of the top health complaints, sleep issues was surveyed in 2015 to be in the No.2 position. It usually wasn't even in the top five. In the past few years, these problems have increased radically. Rising obesity and the number of people on medications, such as antidepressants, are just two of the several reasons experts have identified for lack of sleep. Bad sleep is a choice for many. The average adult is occupied for more than 11 hours on Facebook or watching TV. Our circadian rhythms, which evolve to follow cycles of natural daylight, are stolen by all the smartphones, tablets and TVs. Sleep deprivation can be lethal. Failure to get enough sleep leads to a day of diminished executive function, foggy memory, and slow mental activity. Bad sleep for adults can speed the development of cognitive impairments.