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The Honorable G. K. Butterfield, Jr., Democrat of North Carolina, along with 8 other House Representatives have introduced the "DON'T LET THE BED BUGS BITE ACT OF 2009" to establish a grant in support of states efforts to root out the ever increasing Bed Bug problem that is sweeping the nation. At the same time, Fairy Tales Consumer Products has released the first and only non-toxic Bed Bug eliminator spray that is approximately 100% effective in eradicating bed bugs at home and during travel, called Sleep-Tite, Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite.

"While so many people are suffering from the resurgence in the pesky Bed Bugs, they are more than just a nuisance as they leave bites that can get infected," according to Risa Barash, Executive Director of Fairy Tales, "and cause an allergic reaction. While they aren't known to spread disease in humans, they can cause large itchy bites up to 8 inches across, blister-like skin inflammations, skin rashes similar to hives and groups of small swollen sacs of pus. They are just unattractive, disgusting and they're turning up everywhere," according to Barash.

"High cost treatments are not the best treatments they just cost a lot," continued Barash, "exterminators charge up to thousands of dollars where for under $20 you can have a safe, pesticide free, non-toxic solution that solves the problem at home, during travel and without breaking the bank." The Sleep-Tite formula has been proven effective in studies showing that 94% were dead within 60 seconds with the remaining killed after subsequent sprays.

SOURCE Fairy Tales Hair Care, Inc.

Drowsy driving is one of the most vexing problems involving traffic safety with more than 60 percent of working Americans admitting to driving while feeling sleepy and 37 percent to actually falling asleep at the wheel, in the past year according to the 2008 National Sleep Foundation's Sleep in America poll. The all-new 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class addresses this growing issue with state-of-the-art drowsy driving technology called ATTENTION ASSIST.

"Most drivers underestimate the dangers of drowsy driving," said Darrel Drobnich, chief program officer of the National Sleep Foundation. "While nothing replaces a good night's sleep, new automotive technologies that make drivers aware of their lack of alertness can make a significant difference in the number of tragic incidents that occur on American roads."

Drowsy driving causes more than 100,000 police-reported crashes, resulting in 1,550 deaths and another 71,000 injuries each year according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The problem is significant enough that several states are considering legislation that would allow police to charge drowsy drivers with criminal negligence. New Jersey is currently the only state that specifically criminalizes drowsy driving in a fatal crash by classifying it as recklessness under its vehicular homicide statute.

For this reason, Mercedes-Benz, a leader in vehicle safety technology, created ATTENTION ASSIST, a drowsiness-detection system and made it standard equipment on the new 2010 E-Class. Several years of research and engineering by Mercedes-Benz revealed that drowsy drivers have trouble steering a precise course in their lane, making minor steering errors that are often corrected quickly and abruptly. This effect occurs at an early stage when drowsiness kicks in -- often before the dangerous microsleep phase.

Mercedes-Benz closely studied the physiological indicators in more than 550 male and female drivers that occur when fatigue becomes a factor when driving. These in-depth studies led to the development of technology to monitor driver and vehicle variables and provide a safety alert if drowsy driving is detected.

The ATTENTION ASSIST system includes highly sensitive sensors that continuously monitor and observe the driver's steering behavior across 70 different parameters which prove to be a very strong measure of the driver's condition. Among the monitors is a highly sensitive steering angle sensor that recognizes patterns of minor steering corrections. Once the system recognizes a drowsy driving pattern it emits an audible and visible warning -- in the form of an espresso cup icon in the instrument cluster.

Research has identified the following groups as high-risk for drowsy driving:

Young people -- sleep-related crashes are most common in young people, who tend to stay up late, sleep too little and drive at night. People 25 years old and under account for 55 percent of fall-asleep crashes with 78 percent being caused by male drivers.

Shift workers, those working long hours or business travelers -- night shift workers are six times more likely to fall asleep at the wheel and those working more than 60 hours a week are four times more likely. Business travelers who spend many hours driving as part of their job or encounter jet lag after long flights are also at serious risk for drowsy driving.

Commercial drivers -- account for at least 15 percent of all fatigue-related crashes involving heavy trucks given high mileage trips and night driving when the body is sleepiest.

Drivers with undiagnosed or untreated sleeping disorders -- such as obstructive sleep apnea have up to a seven times increased risk of falling asleep at the wheel. Sleep apnea occurs in four percent of middle-aged men and two percent of middle-aged women. Most people with this sleep and breathing disorder remain undiagnosed.

At one time or another, fatigue will affect all drivers. Anyone who drives is at risk of falling asleep at the wheel. Just like alcohol and drugs, fatigue impairs judgment, mood, reaction times and driving performance. In fact, studies show that being awake for more than 20 hours results in an impairment equal to a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08%, the legal limit in all states.

Short naps and caffeine can improve alertness and driving performance. If a driver feels sleepy, taking a fifteen minute nap followed by ingesting the amount of caffeine in two cups of coffee can help ward off the effects of fatigue for a couple hours. A nap and caffeine is not a substitute for a good night's sleep but they may keep a driver alert until they can get to a stop for the night.

The 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class arrives in U.S. dealerships June 2009 and will start at $48,600. Additional information on the all-new E-Class can be found at http://www.mbusa.com/e-class.

About the National Sleep Foundation

National Sleep Foundation (NSF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving sleep health and safety by achieving greater awareness of sleep and sleep disorders through education and advocacy. NSF's membership includes researchers and clinicians focused on sleep medicine as well as other professionals in the health/medical/science fields, patients, people affected by drowsy driving, individuals, and more than 1000 healthcare facilities throughout North America that join the Foundation's Sleep Care Center Membership Program. For more information visit www.sleepfoundation.org.

SOURCE Mercedes-Benz USA

- On Average a Quarter of Europeans Surveyed From UK, Portugal, France, Germany, Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland Claim Worsening Quality of Sleep Thanks to the Economy(1)

- Portuguese are Most Affected, With 42% Making the Admission, Compared to 17% of the UK(1)

- 66% of European Adults on Average Have Experienced Problems Sleeping Over the Last 12 Months, but Only 19% of These Have Visited the Doctor(1)

- Debilitating Next-Day Side Effects Associated With Sleep Deprivation Could be Costing Europe Billions of Euros, Increasing Traffic Accidents and Seriously Impacting on the Health and Well Being of Those Affected

Lundbeck today announced the results of a new sleep survey of 6,694 Europeans (aged 18+) across seven countries to mark the second annual World Sleep Day, which falls today, 20th March. World Sleep Day is an international event organised by the World Association of Sleep Medicine (WASM) and is aimed at raising awareness of the burden and impact of sleep disorders. The survey was conducted online by YouGov.

Of the 66% of Europeans in these 7 countries who have experienced sleep problems over the past 12 months, on average nearly half have experienced poor concentration during the next day, one in five feel their work has been affected and 68% suffered from sleepiness during the day1. Not only do next-day side effects from poor quality (non-restorative) sleep have a serious impact on an individual's health and well-being, they also create a significant burden on society. While little information is available about the direct and indirect cost of sleep problems in Europe, in the US it is estimated that insomnia costs society up to $107 billion a year(2).

Through World Sleep Day, WASM is also highlighting the dangers of drowsy driving, caused by people suffering next day effects of sleep problems. WASM claims that improved diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders could help to cut fatal or serious road traffic accidents by up to one third(3).

"This survey highlights that despite the availability of a broad range of treatment options for the significant number of people across Europe suffering from sleep problems, very few people are seeking support from their doctor," said Professor Colin Espie, Professor of Clinical Psychology Director, University of Glasgow Sleep Research Laboratory . "There is no need for people to suffer in silence when lifestyle changes and treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapies and medications can all help to tackle sleep problems."

Interestingly, the survey reveals that Polish adults are the worst affected with sleep problems, with over three quarters (76%) experiencing difficulties sleeping over the last 12 months, compared to just 57% of UK adults. It's also not good news for European women who on average suffer from more sleep problems than their male counterparts (73% of women vs. 59% of men)(1).

As demonstrated by this survey, sleep habits and patterns are different throughout Europe, and reported sleep quality differs from nation to nation. No clear reason exists why some nations sleep better than others; however some links have been made to cultural behaviours and differences towards sleep.

"Sleep disorders affect some 238 million people worldwide. In the US alone, almost 60 million complain of insomnia(4)," said Executive Vice President Anders Gersel Pedersen, Head of Drug Development at Lundbeck. "Sleep is a basic human need and is as important as eating or drinking. A lack of sleep or poor quality sleep leads to long and short-term health risks."

In the short-term, people with the most common sleep disorder, insomnia, suffer from poor alertness, impaired efficiency, difficulty in concentrating and excessive daytime sleepiness(5). They also suffer from increased irritability and mood swings that can have a negative impact on relationships(6). In the longer term, there are a number of serious health implications that can be linked to sleep disorders and insomnia, including depression and anxiety, obesity, glucose intolerance leading to type 2 diabetes, weakened immune system, heart attacks, stroke and falls(7,8,9).

Notes to Editors

About the Survey

The survey polled a total of 6,694 adults (18+). Total sample sizes were 2194 adults in the UK, 1000 in Germany, France and Poland, and 500 in Czech Republic, Hungary and Portugal. Fieldwork was undertaken between 29th January and 10th February 2009. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all adults (aged 18+) in each individual country. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Where 'European adults' have been referenced, an average figure was taken from all 7 countries.

A breakdown of the survey results can be requested from the contact provided above.

About World Sleep Day

World Sleep Day is an annual event to raise awareness of the importance of sleep for good health. This year's slogan is 'Drive alert, arrive safe'. The event is organized by the World Sleep Day Committee of the World Association of Sleep Medicine (WASM) and aims to lessen the burden of sleep problems on society through better prevention and management of sleep disorders. Lundbeck is a gold sponsor of World Sleep Day 2009.

SOURCE H. Lundbeck A/S

AmericInn(R) International, LLC officially kicks off "Sleep Better America," the hotel chain's new sleep advocacy and awareness campaign, with the launch of http://www.sleepbetteramerica.net. The new Web portal is designed to educate consumers about sleep-related issues with timely information, tools, tips, product reviews and clinical data from sleep-related studies.

The "Sleep Better America" Web site centralizes unique sleep-related content for consumers who want to improve their sleep quality on the road or at home. Sleepbetteramerica.net gives visitors access to one of the country's top sleep experts, Dr. Christopher Drake, a bioscientific investigator at Henry Ford Hospital Sleep Disorders and Research Center in Detroit.

Dr. Drake will contribute articles, provide data from his own sleep studies and answer one consumer question that's submitted to sleepbetteramerica.net each week. In addition to Dr. Drake's contributions, sleepbetteramerica.net will provide visitors with seasonal sleep information, sleep tips for travelers, event highlights, reviews of new sleep products, the latest in sleep news and links to other relevant Web sites.

"We want sleepbetteramerica.net, and the entire 'Sleep Better America' campaign, to provide consumers with reliable information for dealing with personal sleep issues and concerns," said Dr. Drake.

AmericInn Hotels, known as the "quiet hotel" chain due to its trademarked construction process called AmericInn SoundGuard,(TM) is sponsoring "Sleep Better America" and its corresponding Web site to build awareness of how important a good night's sleep is to living a productive life.

"The launch of 'Sleep Better America' signifies our true commitment to providing all consumers -- not just AmericInn guests -- with tools and resources they need to sleep better and live healthier lives," said Arnold Angeloni, CEO of AmericInn. "We're proud of the expertise that AmericInn has cultivated regarding our quiet room environments over the years, and 'Sleep Better America' is the culmination of our hard work."

Every AmericInn property is built with the AmericInn SoundGuard(TM) process, which uses masonry block filled with sound-deadening foam, thick drywall and concrete slab floors to reduce noise between rooms. Carpeted floors, insulated corridor walls and guest room doors with thresholds and sweeps also help minimize noise.

SOURCE AmericInn International, LLC

The current economic downturn has hurt more than America's wallets--it's hurt sleep habits as well. According to the National Sleep Foundation's annual Sleep in America poll, nearly one-third of Americans have lost sleep due to economy-related concerns. With Americans everywhere facing the dangers of sleep loss, SleepQuest is renewing its commitment to educate about health risks stemming from sleep disorders like Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

In conjunction with National Sleep Awareness Week (NSAW) March 1-8, SleepQuest has launched a new communication effort to illustrate the importance of healthy sleep.

"It's imperative that we get primary care physicians to look at sleep as being as much a part of total health as nutrition and exercise," said Robert Koenigsberg, President of SleepQuest. "We can give physicians the tools they need to easily screen, diagnose and treat sleep apnea--helping cut the risk of stroke and heart disease associated with chronic sleep loss for more than 30 million Americans."

SleepQuest has begun using two new programs to inform the Primary Care Physician (PCP) community about the dangers and prevalence of sleep apnea. A new online multimedia presentation, along with a new book by Dr. William Dement (SleepQuest's Chief Scientific Advisor and widely acknowledged to be the father of sleep medicine) offer essential information to the PCP.

"It's about creating an awareness of just how important sleep is in our everyday lives," said Lori Schulman, SleepQuest's Director of Contracting. "In time, we want doctors to view OSA and other sleep disorders just as they do other chronic health concerns like asthma."

Spreading awareness about home sleep testing and treatment options is key to SleepQuest's continuing efforts to promote the crucial role sleep plays in total health.

"We're really hoping that our work will spur a renewed dialogue between patients and health care providers about sleep," said Koenigsberg. "Dr. Dement reminds us that sleep, exercise and nutrition are equally important parts of our lives. Through our efforts we hope to show physicians how to identify sleep-related health risk and understand the different ways they can directly help their sleep apnea patients."

SOURCE SleepQuest

Just like a caterpillar transforms into a butterfly we also go through transformation phases of life from an infant to a child, into an adolescent, and then an adult. As we grow older we think we can combat sleep and go on working both physically and mentally.
We are over confident that sleep is not a primary need of the body and so we can go without it for long, but life has something else in store for us. Even if the brain tends to work harder and longer the accomplishments are far less than expected.
Only the brain knows what happened the previous night, because sleep deprivation triggers different chemical reactions that impede the normal functioning of the brain. To know more about the correlation between sleep and the brain please click here.

Pic courtesy Randy Son Of Robert on www.flickr.com

 

More than half of America’s population is suffering from sleep deprivation, commonly known as apnea, insomnia, or narcolepsy. There are people who boast about their stamina to do their work with a minimal amount of sleep and still stay fresh.
After all how far can anyone stretch the demand of their own body and mind? It is a known universal truth that any type of fatigue is injurious to health. The sleep problem has reached its peak and is the most sought after problem.
One point is clear like water that we need sufficient amount of sleep to survive, although the exact definition of sleep is still a mystery. But one thing is proved that those who get a minimum of 7 hours of sleep live longer than those who sleep for less than 6 hours. This lack pf sleep can prove to be very expensive and fatal. The National Commission on Sleep Disorder estimates the cost of sleep deprivation to be $ 150 billion, in terms of reduced productivity and high level of stress.
It is of utmost important to bring about an awareness and social consciousness regarding the causes of sleeplessness, the effects, and the remedies available to overcome it.

Pic courtesy The Big Mr on www.flickr.com