How Sleep Savvy Are You?

1. Causes of Fatigue Slideshow Pictures
2. Take the Sleep Quiz
3. Foods That Help or Harm Your Sleep Slideshow Pictures

Test Your Sleep I.Q.

The following true or false statements test what you know about sleep. Click on either "True" or "False" after each question, and be sure to read the correct answers and explanations!

1. Sleep is a time when your body and brain shut down for rest and relaxation. True or False



2. If you regularly doze off unintentionally during the day, you may need more than just a good night's sleep. True or False



3. If you snore loudly and persistently at night and are sleepy during the day, you may have a sleep disorder. True or False



4. Opening the car window or turning the radio up will keep the drowsy driver awake. True or False



5. Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder marked by "sleep attacks." True or False



6. The primary cause of insomnia is worry. True or False



7. One cause of not getting enough sleep is restless legs syndrome. True or False



8. The body has a natural ability to adjust to different sleep schedules such as working different shifts or traveling through multiple time zones quickly. True or False



9. People need less sleep as they grow older. True or False



10. More people doze off at the wheel of a car in the early morning or mid-afternoon than in the evening. True or False

Answers to the Sleep Savvy Quiz.

1. False. Although it is a time when your body rests and restores its energy levels, sleep is an active state that affects both your physical and mental well-being. Adequate restful sleep, like diet and exercise, is critical to good health. Insufficient restful sleep can result in mental and physical health problems and possibly premature death.

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2. True. Many people doze off unintentionally during the day despite getting their usual night of sleep. This could be a sign of a sleep disorder. Approximately 40 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders, including sleep apnea, insomnia, narcolepsy, and restless legs syndrome. An untreated sleep disorder can reduce your daytime productivity, increase your risk of accidents, and put you at risk for illness and even early death.

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3. True. Persistent loud snoring at night and daytime sleepiness are the main symptoms of a common and serious sleep disorder, sleep apnea. Another symptom is frequent long pauses in breathing during sleep, followed by choking and gasping for breath. People with sleep apnea don't get enough restful sleep, and their daytime performance is often seriously affected. Sleep apnea may also lead to hypertension, heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. However, it can be treated, and the sleep apnea patient can live a normal life.

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4. False. Opening the car window or turning the radio up may arouse a drowsy driver briefly, but this won't keep that person alert behind the wheel. Even mild drowsiness is enough to reduce concentration and reaction time. The sleep-deprived driver may nod off for a couple of seconds at a time without even knowing it--enough time to kill himself or someone else. It has been estimated that drowsy driving may account for an average of 56,000 reported accidents each year--claiming over 1,500 lives.

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5. True. People with narcolepsy fall asleep uncontrollably --at any time of the day, in all types of situations-- regardless of the amount or quality of sleep they've had the night before. Narcolepsy is characterized by these "sleep attacks," as well as by daytime sleepiness, episodes of muscle weakness or paralysis, and disrupted nighttime sleep. Although there is no known cure, medications and behavioral treatments can control symptoms, and people with narcolepsy can live normal lives.

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6. False. Insomnia has many different causes, including physical and mental conditions and stress. Insomnia is the perception that you don't get enough sleep because you can't fall asleep or stay asleep or get back to sleep once you've awakened during the night. It affects people of all ages, usually for just an occasional night or two, but sometimes for weeks, months, or even years. Because insomnia can become a chronic problem, it is important to get it diagnosed and treated if it persists for more than a month.

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