More than a third of U.S. adults sleep less than seven hours a night, and many of them report trouble concentrating, remembering, and even driving.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that nearly 35% of people surveyed indicated they averaged less than seven hours of sleep per night. 23% said they had trouble concentrating due to fatigue. 18% struggled when remembering things, and 11% showed driving difficulties.

They found that much of the decline has occurred over the previous twenty years. The National Sleep Foundation recommends that adults get at least seven to nine hours of sleep per night for good health.

According to a report by the U.S. Department of Transportation, drowsiness or falling asleep while driving causes up to 1,550 deaths and 40,000 injuries annually.

The CDC also examined the effect of sleep deprivation on the ability to perform routine activities. Subjects who slept fewer than seven hours were more likely to have trouble concentrating, have memory difficulties, or become so sleepy during the day that performing well at work was difficult. According to the researchers, these issues were less common compared to people who got seven to nine hours of sleep a night. Increasing nightly sleep duration would likely improve everyday functioning, they added.

Obesity and other health problems, such as sleep apnea, chronic pain, and depression, can contribute to chronic sleep loss. In turn, chronic sleep loss can also worsen these health problems, creating a vicious cycle.

People should maintain a consistent sleep schedule and avoid stimulating activities like exercise close to bedtime to improve sleep duration and quality. A bedroom should be comfortable and quiet, creating a good sleep environment.

Unplug

Excessive exposure to artificial light sources before bedtime may increase alertness and suppress the release of melatonin, a sleep-promoting hormone.

The tradition of watching television nightly before bed, checking electronic correspondence, or playing video games before turning in for the night could interfere with sleep quality.

Almost 95% of those responding to the National Sleep Foundation study indicated that they used some form of electronics during the hour before bed, and nearly two-thirds admitted they do not get sufficient sleep during the week.

Baby boomers watch the most television before going to sleep, and over a third of 13-18 year-olds and 28% of young adults 19-29 year olds played video games before bedtime. Over 60% indicated that they were on their computer at night.

The need to stay in constant touch means that people constantly leave their devices on and are awakened by cell phones, texts, and emails during the night.

How much sleep do we need?

Sleep experts say there is no "magic number" of how many hours we need. Sleep needs are individual. The amount of sleep you need to function at your best may be different for you than for someone of a similar age and gender. While you may be at the top of your game after sleeping seven hours per night, someone else may need nine hours to have a happy, productive life.

Those in all age groups deal with this lack of sleep by consuming caffeinated drinks, up to about three 12-ounce beverages per person daily, and taking naps, sometimes more than one during the day. Consuming caffeine makes it harder to recover the lost sleep during the next night.

Contrary to common myth, our need for sleep doesn't decline as we age, but our ability to sleep for 6 to 8 hours at one time becomes much more difficult.

A Natural Solution

An excellent 100% natural solution to healthy sleep is SeniorLife Health's Sleep Support Formula. A great way to achieve better sleep and health, it's formulated with seven ingredients that let you drift into a restful slumber and wake up feeling revitalized (with a mind clear of grogginess).

This scientifically advanced all-natural supplement contains the nutritional requirements that help the body relax and sleep. By providing the body's natural sleep hormone melatonin, plus a collection of calming herbs, phytomedicinals, and critical nutrients, the body is encouraged to eliminate restlessness and anxiety naturally, as well as persistent sleeplessness and insomnia. Sleep Support Formula complements the body's natural ability to promote fast, safe, and deep sleep - like the kind we experienced when we were younger. 

The ingredients in this formula also offer some of the factors the body uses to make the neurotransmitter called "serotonin," which influences neurons that control such diverse activities as sleep, mood, and appetite. Sleep Support Formula supplies the body with the proper nutritional support, causing the vital and typical sleep pattern of dreaming to be preserved and enhanced.

Interestingly, "sleeping pills" using conventional drug therapy have proven to cause fewer and shorter periods of dreaming than found in normal sleep.