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MONDAY, March 2 (HealthDay News) -- Almost a third of all Americans are tossing and turning, unable to get a good night's sleep because they're worrying about the economy, their jobs or their money, a new poll finds.
Money woes far outweigh other problems, such as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, global warming, or the threat of a terrorist attack, according to the annual poll by the National Sleep Foundation.
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"What is very telling is that these Americans whose sleep is impacted by financial worries report that their sleep disturbance makes them much less likely to work efficiently, exercise, eat healthily, and have sex compared to their better-sleeping fellow Americans," said report co-author Michael V. Vitiello, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at University of Washington.
These sleep-disturbed Americans also report that they're more than twice as likely to miss participating in family events, leisure activities and work functions because of their sleepiness, Vitiello added.
According to the poll, 27 percent of those surveyed said they had disturbed sleep in the past month due to money issues -- including personal finances (16 percent), the U.S. economy (15 percent), or losing their job (10 percent).
Although people are getting better about recognizing the importance of sufficient sleep to their health and their ability to function, many are still experiencing disturbed sleep, leading to adverse effects on their health and daily functioning, Vitiello said.
"It is important for Americans to recognize that good sleep is not negotiable, rather it is a pillar of good health and function," he said. "As times get tougher, it actually becomes more important than ever to do what one can to maintain good sleep quality, as poor sleep has such an immediate impact on daily function and longer-term impact on physical health."
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