Sleep 8 System

Recent studies indicate that 1/3 of the American population suffers from sleep related issues. The instances of temporary and chronic insomnia are also very high in the U.K., most of Europe and Japan. Our society is experiencing an epidemic of sleep deprivation. The research regarding the problem lacks funding. Much is still not known about how the brain works and exactly what happens when we move from a wakeful state to restful sleep. Our days are spent with demanding work schedules and caffeine crutches to get us through. The energy drink business is now a multi-billion, yes billion, dollar business and is doubling year after year.

Where does this leave us? Many sleep deprived folks are turning to prescription sleep aids. Is this a good decision? What are the side effects of plunging into the world of sleeping pills?

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Long haul truckers fall asleep at the wheel. A lot. If you’re a long haul trucker, you have almost certainly experienced this, even if it’s not something you’d go around talking about to everyone you meet. Sleep deprivation on the road is a huge personal and public safety problem today. In fact, the effects of sleep deprivation are the same impaired judgment and slowed reaction times as those of a drunk driver (up to the equivalent of a 0.5% Blood Alcohol Content!).
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