When clocks go back an hour early Sunday morning, our roads and highways may become more dangerous as people drive drowsy, according to The National Road Safety Foundation, Inc. (NRSF), a non-profit group that offers free driver safety programs.

Drowsy driving is a significant factor in traffic crashes. The risk increases as daylight savings time ends and we spend more time driving at night, says David Reich of NRSF. "Drowsy driving is as dangerous as drunk driving," he notes.

Studies show 60 percent of U.S. motorists have driven while fatigued and nearly 37 percent admit to having fallen asleep at the wheel.

Drowsy driving is especially prevalent among teens, who tend to keep late hours and think they can function on minimal sleep. Teens actually require more sleep than adults.

NRSF urges drivers to be alert to signs of drowsiness while driving:

• Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking, rubbing eyes
• Daydreaming or not remembering the last few miles driven
• Head snaps, yawning
• Drifting out of your lane, tailgating or hitting rumble strips
  

If you experience any of these warning signs, pull over safely and take a break. Have a cup of coffee or a caffeinated snack or take a 20-minute nap. Allow 30 minutes for caffeine to enter your bloodstream. Never drink alcohol before driving and know if any medications you take might induce drowsiness.

The National Road Safety Foundation, with National Organizations for Youth Safety, is sponsoring a competition for young people ages 13 - 22, inviting ideas for public service announcements that address drowsy driving or other safety issues including speeding, seat belt usage, and driving while drunk or distracted. The winner will receive $1,000 and a trip to New York to see the idea professionally produced into a public service announcement that will air on TV nationwide. Entry deadline is Nov. 21. Information is at www.drivetolife.com.

For more than 45 years, the National Road Safety Foundation has produced films and teaching materials that have been used to train millions of young drivers about the dangers of drinking and driving, speeding and aggressive driving. To download or receive a free copy of the Foundation's program on drowsy driving, "Almost Home," and other free driver education programs, visit the NRSF website at www.nrsf.org.

To see press release go to http://myprgenie.com/2862

Contact: David Reich, david@nrsf.org, 212 573-6000

SOURCE The National Road Safety Foundation

Transcept Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: TSPT) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Complete Response Letter regarding the New Drug Application (NDA) for Intermezzo® (zolpidem tartrate sublingual tablet). The NDA, submitted by Transcept in September 2008, seeks approval to market Intermezzo® for use as-needed for the treatment of insomnia when a middle of the night awakening is followed by difficulty returning to sleep.

In the Complete Response Letter the FDA stated that it believes Transcept has submitted substantial evidence of effectiveness for the use of Intermezzo® in the as-needed treatment of insomnia characterized by difficulty returning to sleep after awakening in the middle of the night. The FDA further recognized that the Intermezzo® data submitted by Transcept did not indicate significant next day residual effects. However, the FDA indicated that the intended use of Intermezzo® in the middle of the night represents a unique insomnia indication and dosing strategy for which safety has not been previously established.

The FDA requested additional data demonstrating that Intermezzo®, when taken as directed in the middle of the night, would not present an unacceptable risk of residual effects, with particular reference to next day driving ability.

The FDA also expressed two concerns regarding the possibility of patient dosing errors in the middle of the night that could lead to next day residual effects. Specifically, the FDA has asked Transcept to address methods to avoid inadvertent dosing with less than four hours of bedtime remaining, and inadvertent re-dosing in a single night.

Based upon the content of the letter, it is possible that Transcept will need to conduct one or more additional safety studies. Transcept will request a meeting with the FDA to discuss specific requirements for approval.

Glenn A. Oclassen, President and Chief Executive Officer of Transcept, commented, "Transcept is committed to making this important new potential therapy available to insomnia patients. We will continue to work closely with the FDA to address their questions and define the path forward for Intermezzo®."

Conference Call Scheduled

Transcept will host a conference call and live webcast to discuss the Complete Response Letter on Thursday, October 29, 2009, at 8:30 a.m. EDT. Telephone numbers for the live conference call are 866-206-7202 (U.S.) or 703-639-1112 (International). The webcast can be accessed on the Investors page of the Transcept website at www.transcept.com and will be available for replay until close of business on November 12, 2009. A playback of the call will be available through November 12, 2009 through a telephone replay number that can be obtained through Transcept at 510-215-3500.

About Intermezzo®

Intermezzo® (zolpidem tartrate sublingual tablet), the lead product candidate at Transcept, has the potential to be the first prescription sleep aid specifically approved for use in the middle of the night at the time a patient awakens and has difficulty returning to sleep. Intermezzo® is a sublingual low dose formulation of zolpidem, the active agent most commonly prescribed in the United States for the treatment of insomnia. Intermezzo® uses approximately one-quarter to one-third of the dose of active drug contained in currently marketed zolpidem-based sleep aids, in a formulation designed to promote rapid sublingual absorption.

Two Phase 3 clinical studies evaluated 376 patients receiving either Intermezzo® or placebo. In the first study, a sleep laboratory trial using an objective polysomnographic endpoint, Intermezzo® demonstrated a statistically significant decrease versus placebo in the time it took patients to return to sleep as measured by Latency to Persistent Sleep. In the second study, an outpatient trial, Intermezzo® demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in Latency to Sleep Onset, a subjective patient reported endpoint. The most common adverse event seen in these trials was headache (2.7 percent active versus 1.4 percent placebo in the outpatient study).

Transcept is actively pursuing patents to protect Intermezzo® in the United States and key non-U.S. markets, and, as part of the NDA submission, has requested that the FDA grant three years of Hatch-Waxman marketing exclusivity to Intermezzo®.

SOURCE Transcept Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

On today's Dr. Oz Show the topic was fatigue, including its most debilitating manifestation, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).

Dr. Oz's guest Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, best-selling author of From Fatigued to Fantastic! (Avery Penguin Group) and Pain Free 1-2-3 (McGraw-Hill), suffered from CFS when he was in medical school and had to drop out for a year to recover. The disease left him homeless and sleeping on park benches, but this defining experience ignited a passion to learn everything he could about the disease and beat it.

"From that time, my medical career has been focused on finding effective treatment for CFS and its painful cousin fibromyalgia, which together afflict at least 12 million Americans," explained Dr. Teitelbaum, who serves as medical director of the national Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers www.fibroandfatigue.com. His landmark study on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, 8:2, 2001) showed that 91 percent of patients using his SHINE treatment protocol improved, with an average improvement in quality of life of 90 percent.

"SHINE stands for Sleep, Hormones, Infections, Nutrition and Exercise--the critical areas we focus on treating to help CFS patients get their lives back," said Dr. Teitelbaum. "Our free online symptom analysis program helps to streamline the process, customizing treatments that you and your physician can easily incorporate."

Although many stresses, including numerous infections, can trigger CFS, Dr. Teitelbaum identifies hypothalamic dysfunction as the mechanism responsible for the wide range of disabling and seemingly unconnected symptoms suffered by CFS patients. "If you're exhausted but can't sleep, experience brain fog, weight gain, achiness, and low libido--it's highly likely that you have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome," he explained. "When the system is over-stressed, the hypothalamus acts like a circuit breaker that shuts off the power to protect body and mind from further damage.

"I know what patients are going through," Dr. Teitelbaum concluded. "Regardless of what doctors may have told you in the past, this disease is real, but it is treatable and you can get your life back."

For more information, visit http://www.endfatigue.com. Also see Dr. Teitelbaum's blog entries on Dr. Oz's website at http://www.doctoroz.com/expert/jacob-teitelbaum-md.

SOURCE Dr. Teitelbaum

In preparation for its Winter of 2009 opening, True REST Float Center has launched its new website, http://Truerest.com. The center is the first in the United States to offer REST pod technology.

The website walks potential clients through every step of the float experience. In addition to a video overview, site features include:

• An online reservation system
• Members' area
• Special discounts
• Live help
• Complimentary products and services
  

Flotation REST (Restricted Environmental Stimulus Therapy) involves floating on top of a pool of saltwater - 10 inches of purified water and 800 pounds of specifically formulated Epsom salt imported from Germany. Because of the high salt content of the water, which is heated to skin surface temperature, a person is able to float effortlessly. According to the website's video, the "special solution of salinated water makes floating on water feel like floating on air."

Owner Nick Janicki said Flotation REST - originally developed in the '70s - is an idea whose time has come. Recent studies have linked lack of sleep to problems ranging from obesity, memory loss, and a weakened immune system. True REST owner Nick Janicki said the REST pod is designed to take flotation into the 21st century. "Lack of sleep is approaching epidemic proportions," said Janicki. "We believe 60 minutes in our technology will surpass the benefits gained from the most restful sleep."

Flotation REST also has been associated with the following benefits:

• Eliminates jet lag
• Alleviates stress
• Energizes, rejuvenates and revitalizes
• Quickens rehabilitation and recovery
• Relieves pain
• Boosts immunity
• Improves circulation
• Reduces blood pressure, pulse, heart rate and oxygen consumption
• Sharpens mental clarity and alertness
  

The 60-minute float sessions include a wide variety of musical choices and guided audio. Audio guidance can help clients experience enhanced mental, physical, and emotional states. Specific sound frequencies can help clients tap into more of the brain's innate abilities, enter deep meditative states reliably and easily, reduce stress, enhance creativity and become more productive.

    Membership packages are available as follows:

    Basic: $59 (one float per month)
    Plus: $99 (two floats per month)
    Premium: $180 (four floats per month)

Many additional services and benefits are provided to members free of charge, including an oxygen bar, quiet room and loyalty points.

"With medical factors pointing to the importance of rest, Flotation REST sessions are not a luxury but a necessity for a healthy lifestyle," said Janicki. "I invite anyone interested to visit http://Truerest.com for more information - and, in November, to visit our facility and experience it for themselves."

SOURCE True REST Float Center

Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) today introduced the next generation Philips Respironics Sleep Therapy System at Medtrade 2009, the leading conference and expo for the home medical equipment industry. The arrival of the new product line brings significant advancements in therapy for millions of sleep apnea sufferers, along with solutions to healthcare providers to help meet today's healthcare challenges. Those who experience this potentially life-threatening condition stop breathing repeatedly during sleep due to an obstruction in the upper airway or when the brain fails to send signals for respiration.

Philips Respironics commercialized continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in 1985 and, soon after, exclusively developed bi-level airway pressure technology for treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The first line effective treatment works by delivering a gentle flow of pressurized air through a mask to keep the airway open. The new Philips Respironics Sleep Therapy System combines 25 years of experience with state-of-the-art technology and new-to-market features that optimize comfort, care, and efficacy of therapy in patients. The system also provides new levels of control, compliance and efficiency to help healthcare professionals improve patient outcomes, grow their businesses and better manage their operating costs.

"Our new system is proof positive of our vision of working together with our provider customers to transform the home healthcare market to meet today's challenges and tomorrow's promise of improved care," says Donald Spence, CEO of Philips Home Healthcare Solutions. "In designing the new system, we took a smarter approach to the entire sleep management process and married our clinically proven technologies together in one rigorously engineered device to better support patient care. It is our most sophisticated offering to date, and it comes at a time when patient compliance matters most."

The new system provides a range of therapy options for mild to severe sleep apnea patients and helps providers recognize changing patient conditions that may require different treatment. With new advanced event detection software and expanded reporting capabilities, Philips Respironics Sleep Therapy System has the ability to recognize and report when a patient may be experiencing symptoms beyond OSA. A sophisticated three-layer algorithm distinguishes between obstructed and clear airway apneas and periodic breathing, such as Cheyne-Stokes Respiration. Medical professionals now have easy access to sleep assessment parameters typically found on diagnostic equipment.

These respiratory events can be verified by looking at detailed patient flow waveform data. There are multiple options for data transfer, including standard SD cards and new wireless and wired modem connections. The devices now include on-board memory storage for six months of compliance data (7 and 30 day averages) and five days of patient flow waveforms.

Philips Respironics Encore data management systems have been enhanced. The Web-based platform of EncoreAnywhere makes it quick and simple to obtain timely, accurate patient information and instantly change prescriptions or communicate from a secure-access Web site. Updates to the device are automatic, and summary and daily detail reports of therapy data -- including patient flow and event reports -- are arranged by time frame. The "Best 30" reports the best 30 consecutive days of greater than four-hour sessions. This information enables the provider to intervene more quickly and more effectively and instantly capture patient compliance data needed for reimbursement.

Adding to its contemporary design, lighted LEDs and a new LCD dial and push-button interface make the device simple to use and operate. About the size of a clock radio (7" L x 5.5" W x 4" H; 18 cm L x 14 cm W x 10 cm H), components are built in to maximize patient comfort and device performance. The device is engineered with new Dry Box technology and a cleverly designed water chamber to keep water only where needed, while delivering consistent humidification. A technology breakthrough, System One Humidity Control, adjusts automatically for changes in room temperature and room humidity. Like cruise control in automobiles, patients select the desired humidity level in the mask, and advanced sensors gather the data required by the device to maintain these levels to enhance comfort and prevent rainout in changing environmental conditions.

Another major comfort enhancement, System One Resistance Control, adjusts pressure delivery to optimize comfort with every Philips Respironics mask. Beyond leak reporting, the device is set up to compensate for resistance characteristics caused by the various mask options available and operate as an integrated system.

Philips Respironics Flex Family of pressure relief technologies continues to evolve to meet patient and professional needs. The new device features an on-board Flex Demo mode to allow patients to experience the comfort of proven Flex technology firsthand. With Flex, an advanced Digital Auto-Trak algorithm detects the onset of inspiration and expiration to deliver the right amount of pressure relief and emulate natural breathing. Clinical studies show patients on Flex use their therapy on average more than four hours per night when using traditional CPAP.¹ The newest enhancement, C-Flex+, is designed for advanced units when in fixed CPAP mode. It provides relief at the beginning of exhalation and softens the pressure transition from inhalation to exhalation. Philips Respironics backs the performance with the Flex Promise Program.

The new Philips Respironics' CPAP and BiPAP devices include basic, compliance, and auto-adjusting models. Accessories include power supply, carrying case, power cord, filter kit, and integrated humidifier. The devices come with a 2-year, replace-with-new warranty, and are backed by Philips Respironics' renowned service and support programs.

Source: Royal Philips Electronics

Enjoy a peaceful night's sleep and significantly decrease the rhythmic, strident sound of your partner's incessant snoring with the Brookstone® Anti-Snore Memory Foam Pillow. The specialty retailer and product development company recently launched its anti-snore pillow with a clinically tested design helpful in reducing snoring and providing comfort without altering your natural sleep style or position.

The Brookstone® Anti-Snore Pillow uses an innovative design to help reduce snoring. At first glance, the pillow looks -- and feels like a pressure-relieving memory foam neck pillow. Inside, the support system gently yet firmly cradles your head and neck, conforming to the natural contours of your body, while helping to keep your chin out and maintain a more open airway for better sleep. No matter what position -- back or side -- you and your partner can finally gain a peaceful night's sleep.

"One of the causes of snoring is the misalignment of the head, the neck and the shoulders, which may lead to a restricted airway during lung expansion for taking a deep breath," says Board Certified physician 'Dr. Jorge' Rodriguez. "The soft, supportive memory foam conforms to the exact profile of your body, resulting in better airway pressures and access to air," Dr. Jorge concludes. An expert in internal and preventative medicine who operates out of his Newport Beach, CA private practice, 'Dr. Jorge' avidly utilizes and recommends the Brookstone® Anti-Snore Memory Foam Pillow.

Brookstone's Anti-Snore Pillow is made with natural green tea, charcoal and castor oil, and features a removable cover for cleaning and removable foam inserts for customizable neck support. "I don't think we realize the detriments of not gaining good sleep, as it is crucial for our daily performance and interactions," says Dr. Jorge.

Individuals looking for a clinically tested solution to help reduce snoring can find this anti-snore pillow exclusively at all Brookstone® stores throughout the country, and online at www.brookstone.com.

The Brookstone® Anti-Snore Memory Foam Pillow retails for $99.95.

Brookstone, Inc. is an innovative product development company and multi-channel retailer of unique gifts. Brookstone operates 315 retailers nationwide and in Puerto Rico, an e-commerce site at Brookstone.com, and publishes catalogs year-round. Typically located in high-traffic regional shopping malls and airports, Brookstone stores feature unique and innovative consumer products. For more information, visit www.brookstone.com.

For media inquiries, sample requests or interviews with Dr. Jorge Rodriguez, please contact: Tara Solomon or Kristina Lynch (tara@taraink.com/kristina@taraink.com) of TARA, Ink. at 305.864.3434, ext. 102/153.

For additional sleep-related product suggestions and reviews, please follow 'Dr. Jorge' Rodriguez on Twitter.com: @drjorgeMD.

SOURCE Brookstone

Bob Hickman, United Feather & Down's Senior Vice Present of Sales and Marketing, and Neil A. Petrocelli, Borghese, Inc.'s Vice President of Marketing, list their top sleep and beauty tips.

1. Aloe vera gel penetrates skin almost four times faster than water, and its super emollient qualities help it moisturize the under layers of skin. Aloe treated bedding is kind to your skin to help you awaken refreshed and rejuvenated.

2. Choose the right pillow to fit your sleep style. A quality pillow is constructed to fit either a side sleeper, back sleeper or stomach sleeper and the right pillow can make a world of difference for getting a satisfying and full night's rest.

3. Try to get to bed at the same time every night. This keeps your body in the proper rhythm to obtain a full, good night's rest. This is because humans have an inbuilt body clock called the circadian rhythm. Controlled by hypothalamus at the base of the brain, it governs the body's daily alternation between sleep and wakefulness.

4. Night cremes concentrate on repairing, refreshing and rejuvenating what was damaged during the day's exposure to sun, environmental factors and simple stress. They can help improve skin tone and color, reduce blemishes and hydrate and rejuvenate the skin. Moisturizing creams rich in natural, soothing botanicals are gentler for your skin. Giving your self an "overnight facial" is a great way to wake up feeling refreshed and looking younger.

5. The area around your eyes doesn't contain oil-producing glands, so pay special attention to this sensitive area by gently applying a soothing, botanical eye cream to help prevent fine lines and dark circles.

6. The right mattress pad can help extend the life of your mattress and bedding, and provide extra support to help you get a better night's sleep. When constructed with the right fibers and fabrics, a proper mattress pad promotes breathability, or proper air-flow to help moderate body temperature, improve moisture management and wick excessive moisture away.

7. Night time is the best time to practice a skin care regimen focused on repair and refreshment, because in the quiet of your bedroom, you are free from stress, sun and environmental factors that can cause premature aging.

8. A good night's sleep isn't important only for beauty, but also for better health. Your immune system benefits as well. Rapid-Eye-Movement or REM sleep helps the body and the immune system recharge and repair cell damage from the day's stressors and activities.

9. Body temperature is important when you sleep, so selecting the right bedding is important. When selecting down, premium, quality larger down clusters provide a higher fill power that will trap more air for lighter, softer loft and warmth in a comforter; and in a pillow, superior loft and adjustable comfort. Consider the construction of the comforter or pillow, type of fabric and the thread count.

10. Allergies can keep a person awake at night. The proper hypoallergenic bedding will help lessen the possibility of an allergic reaction or response. United Feather & Down's Freshness Assured(R) guarantee is a proprietary 15-step cleaning process that ensures all our Down and Feather blends are hypoallergenic, the cleanest, freshest product available.

SOURCE United Feather & Down

The Sleep Center at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas recently received accreditation from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. The center at Baylor Dallas is one of only two dozen accredited centers in North Texas.

"Accreditation provides formal recognition of our commitment to quality scientific research and care for patients suffering from sleep disorders," said David L. Luterman, M.D., sleep medicine physician and pulmonologist on the medical staff at Baylor Dallas and director of the Sleep Center at Baylor Dallas. "We are proud to be an accredited resource for the community."

The Sleep Center at Baylor Dallas offers comprehensive care for more than 80 sleep disorders and other conditions, including sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, insomnia, daytime sleepiness, and narcolepsy.

"Sleep disorders can profoundly affect a person's physical and emotional health," said Dr. Luterman. "Our sleep center designs a personalized diagnostic and treatment program to meet each patient's needs."

To receive a five-year accreditation, a sleep center must meet or exceed all standards for professional health care as designated by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. The accreditation process involves detailed inspection of a center's facility and staff, including an evaluation of testing procedures, patient contacts and physician training. Additionally, the facility's goals must be clearly stated and include plans for positively affecting the quality of medical care in the community it serves.

SOURCE Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas

Cephalon, Inc. (Nasdaq: CEPH) today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted a priority review for its supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for NUVIGIL(R) (armodafinil) Tablets [C-IV], which was filed in June of this year. The FDA decision on approval of NUVIGIL as a treatment for improving wakefulness in patients with excessive sleepiness associated with jet lag disorder due to eastbound travel is expected by December 29, 2009. There currently is no FDA-approved treatment for jet lag disorder.

The NUVIGIL sNDA is based on data from a Phase III pivotal study that evaluated the efficacy and safety of NUVIGIL (50 or 150 mg/day) in 427 healthy adults over three days during travel from the United States to Europe. These data were presented earlier this year at the SLEEP 2009 23rd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies.

About NUVIGIL

NUVIGIL, the longer-lasting isomer of modafinil, was launched in the United States in June 2009 and is indicated to improve wakefulness in patients with excessive sleepiness associated with treated obstructive sleep apnea, shift work sleep disorder, also known as shift work disorder (SWD), and narcolepsy. NUVIGIL is not approved as a treatment for jet lag disorder or its associated symptoms. The NUVIGIL label includes a bolded warning for serious or life-threatening rash, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome, that has been reported in adults and children taking modafinil, a racemic mixture of S and R modafinil (the latter is armodafinil, the active ingredient in NUVIGIL). NUVIGIL is not approved for use in pediatric patients for any indication.

The most common adverse events in controlled clinical trials (five percent or greater) were headache, nausea, dizziness and insomnia. Full prescribing information for NUVIGIL is available at www.NUVIGIL.com.

About Cephalon, Inc.

Founded in 1987, Cephalon, Inc. is an international biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of many unique products in four core therapeutic areas: central nervous system, inflammatory diseases, pain and oncology. A member of the Fortune 1000 and the S&P 500 Index, Cephalon currently employs approximately 3,000 people in the United States and Europe. U.S. sites include the company's headquarters in Frazer, Pennsylvania, and offices, laboratories or manufacturing facilities in West Chester, Pennsylvania, Salt Lake City, Utah, and suburban Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Cephalon has a growing presence in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The Cephalon European headquarters and pre-clinical development center are located in Maisons-Alfort, France, just outside of Paris. Key business units are located in England, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands for the Benelux countries, and Poland for Eastern and Central European countries. Cephalon Europe markets more than 30 products in four areas: central nervous system, pain, primary care and oncology.

The company's proprietary products in the United States include: NUVIGIL, TREANDA(R) (bendamustine hydrochloride) for Injection, AMRIX(R) (cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride extended-release capsules), FENTORA(R) (fentanyl buccal tablet) [C-II], TRISENOX(R) (arsenic trioxide) injection, GABITRIL(R) (tiagabine hydrochloride), PROVIGIL(R) (modafinil) Tablets [C-IV], and ACTIQ(R) (oral transmucosal fentanyl citrate) (C-II). The company also markets numerous products internationally. Full prescribing information on its U.S. products is available at www.cephalon.com or by calling 1-800-896-5855.

SOURCE Cephalon, Inc.

Sit 'n Sleep, the mattress superstore dedicated to providing a good night's sleep to millions of Southern Californians, is looking for L.A.'s worst mattress. Today, the company launched L.A.'s Worst Mattress Contest in which five lucky Southern Californians with the worst mattresses in the region will win a new, luxury mattress from Sit 'n Sleep and a chance to win $100,000.

Starting this week, contest entrants are invited to create and submit inspiring videos detailing just why their mattress is the very worst in town. Uploaded to www.worstmattress.com, entries will be judged both on creativity and the criteria used to determine whether that old mattress needs to be replaced.

And just what is that criteria?

• TEAR & WEAR: How beat up is your mattress? Does it look like it was dropped off the 5 Freeway during rush hour and hit by a semi truck? Is it discolored, ripped or are the box springs about to jump out and injure someone?
• OLDEST: Fess up, how old is that mattress? Was it purchased in a time before the Internet, cordless phones or even microwaves? Does it look like over 10,000 nights of bad sleep have finally caught up with it?
• SAG: Does your mattress look like a bowling ball has been sleeping in its center for the last decade? If so, it's time to re-think your sleeping situation.
• STAINS: Does your mattress bear the evidence of years of bedroom activity? If so, it's time to TOSS!
  

"I want to see those dirty, beat up mattresses, and get a good look at those sags and stains!" said Larry Miller, founder, president and CEO of Sit 'n Sleep. "People don't understand that, after eight years, mattresses double in weight, are filled with bed bugs, and are bad for your health. It's time to get rid of the major embarrassment below your bedspread and start getting those zz's back."

How the contest works:

• Visit the Worst Mattress website for details
• Submit a video that, in 90 seconds or less, explains why your mattress is the worst in L.A. - remember, have fun and be creative!
• Entries are due by October 30, 2009
• On November 2, 2009, five winning videos will be announced and each will win a free luxury mattress.
• The grand prize winner receives a Kingsdown 800 mattress worth approximately $5,000.00. Four other category winners receive luxury mattresses ranging in value from $1,500 to $3,900
• On Saturday, November 21, 2009 the five lucky winners will be invited to Sit 'n Sleep's Culver City Superstore to participate in a drawing with a chance to win $100,000*
  

For more contest rules and details or to submit a video, log on to: www.worstmattress.com

SOURCE Sit 'n Sleep