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| behind the wheel as the rest of the general population. About 2 percent of those who have no or only occasional insomnia have an accident related to falling asleep behind the wheel, while 5 percent of chronic insomniacs have such accidents. As the sleep debt grows, the pressure to sleep while on the job or on the road increases. |
| The consequences of insomnia range from mild daytime drowsiness to serious injuries and even death. Accidents can occur due to falling asleep or loss of concentration, mainly while operating an automobile or other potentially dangerous machinery. Many insomniacs report loss of ability to enjoy family and social relationships. Some avoid social contact for fear of falling asleep while visiting friends. |
| How Much Sleep is Enough? |
| The amount of sleep needed varies tremendously between individuals. There is no ''normal'' amount; different people need different amounts of sleep. However, the amount that any one person needs is amazingly constant. Although you may sleep longer one night than another depending on circumstances, the number of hours slept over a week or a month usually averages out very much the same; one week usually falls within one-half hour of another week. Eight hours of sleep a night is the usual quoted average, although seven to seven and a half hours is more accurate for most people. Even that number is only an average and has nothing to do with what's good or bad. A good night's sleep can range from less than three hours to more than ten. |
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