Why sleep deprivation is a Great Challenge1. Sleep touches every one and every biological system in the body. 2. The lack of balanced sleep health is a major negative contributor to almost all of the

other Great Challenges.3. Poor sleep is expensive:

• Sleep deprivation from insomnia is estimated to cost this country’s economy $63.5 billion annually.• Sleep deprivation caused by obstructive sleep apnea is estimated to cost this country’s economy $120 billion

annually.

4. Sleep deprivation can cause decision makers to exercise poor judgment and even lead to unethical behavior

5. As the third pillar of health along with Diet and Exercise, sleep deprivation undermines our efforts to have optimal diet and exercise.

6. When we neglect good sleep health and adopt the attitude “I’ll sleep when I’m dead,” our resulting sleep deprivation impedes our cognitive performance, leading to poor behavior and judgment in everything we do at work and at home.

7. Sleep is private behavior that can have public consequences, e.g., drowsy driving.• 250,000 people fall asleep at the wheel every day in this country and it is not illegal to sleep and drive except in

NJ.

8. America’s national sleep debt is approaching 450,000,000 hours.9. Good Sleep Makes Everything Better.10. Bad Sleep Makes Everything Bad.

http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/matters