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American Morning
Americans Even More Sleep Deprived After September 11
Aired December 17, 2001 - 08:16 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Even before 9-11, there were studies showing Americans were sleep deprived. Well, since 9-11 things have gotten even worse. According to one survey, more than 60 percent of Americans say they've had a hard time sleeping. And in New York City, sales of over-the-counter sleep aids have increased by nearly 50 percent in the past three months alone.
So, why are so many Americans losing sleep? Well, James Maas, professor of psychology at Cornell University, who happens to the author of "Power Sleep," he has been studying sleep for more than 30 years. He has some of the answers for us this morning.
Welcome, Professor Maas.
PROFESSOR JAMES MAAS, CORNELL UNIVERSITY: Thanks, Paula.
You know, what's really interesting, that survey done by Simply Sleep, showed that women would rather have eight hours of uninterrupted sleep than a visit from Santa.
ZAHN: Really, ...
MAAS: Isn't that amazing?
ZAHN: ... yeah, I can relate to that. Because, you know, the Santa shopping is a whole other area of -- creates a lot of stress in your life.
Talk to us about the sleep patterns across America, and how severely disturbed they've been since 9-11.
MAAS: Well, we're walking zombies at this point. We are getting, as the study showed, 5.5 hours of uninterrupted sleep.
Before Edison turned on the electric lights, we were getting 10. Then it went to nine, eight, seven. Now it's 6.7 as far as total sleep, and a third of us are getting six or less.
ZAHN: What do we need?
MAAS: We need to value sleep. Sleep is a necessity, not a luxury. We need to realize that all of us need about eight hours of uninterrupted ...
ZAHN: Eight hours!! Give me a break!
(CROSSTALK)
MAAS: ...people on morning shows that -- no way ...
ZAHN: Who has eight hours of sleep?
MAAS: Right. But, you know, if you sleep and meet your requirement, you will be in such a better mood, so much more effective, so more efficient, you'll get everything done you're doing now and have time left over.
ZAHN: But the bottom line is, it's not just 9-11 that has disrupted ...
MAAS: Right.
ZAHN: ... sleep patterns.
MAAS: Right.
ZAHN: You also have this issue of the recession, ...
MAAS: Yes.
ZAHN: ... that is weighing very heavily on Americans' ...
(CROSSTALK)
ZAHN: ... minds these days.
MAAS: ... the surveys are showing now, that that is the most important factor in creating insomnia, so you can't get to bed when you want, your night is interrupted, or you wake up too early.
Twenty-two hours every week are spent by men worrying about finances, about money -- more so than security and the World Trade Center. Although ...
ZAHN: What ...
MAAS: ... they're obviously connected.
ZAHN: So, there is no signs that we're going to see an immediate recovery here. What kind of ...
MAAS: Right.
ZAHN: ... advice do you have for these ...
MAAS: Well, ...
ZAHN: ... men, and ...
MAAS: ... no ...
ZAHN: ... women in America who aren't ...
MAAS: ... number one, ...
ZAHN: ... sleeping, as well.
MAAS: ... no caffeine after two in the afternoon. No liquor within three hours of bedtime, because these destroy REM sleep, the period in which dreaming takes place. And this is essential that we have uninterrupted sleep.
So, no alcohol within three hours of bedtime is very, very important.
ZAHN: Now, what about food?
MAAS: And food, no spicy foods, you know, eat light at dinner. Don't eat your heavy meal then.
Well , you know, even children are terribly panicked right now about the World Trade Center. The parents are sitting on the couch watching TV.
The children are there, maybe young infants, and they're looking, and the parents don't think these kids are processing, but they are. And then they have ...
ZAHN: They synthesize everything they see.
MAAS: And then they have nightmares. So you've got to talk to your kids.
I just wrote a brand new book called "Remmy and the Brain Train," ...
ZAHN: Hold it up, there, now, there, professor.
MAAS: OK. Where do we go?
ZAHN: Right there. That's perfect.
MAAS: OK. And "Remmy" is the only children's book that tells children why they need a full night's sleep, what goes on in their brains. And it gives parents a chance to talk to their kids about events, about what happened today, why you need sleep.
This will actually produce better grades and better performance. Eighty-five percent of our kids are not meeting their sleep needs, ...
ZAHN: That ...
MAAS: ... and 30 percent ...
ZAHN: ... that's terrible.
MAAS: ... have sleep disorders, Paula. It's incredible.
College kids -- walking zombies. They need nine-and-a-quarter hours every single day. They get 6.1. That's a three hour deficit.
So we get kids in high school coming to school too early, at eight in the morning. And their brains are back on their pillows, although their bodies are in the classroom.
Tremendous waste of educational dollars.
ZAHN: Well, I think there are a number of us that probably leave our brains back there on the pillow, but the eight hours might make a difference.
Good recommendations. We'll watch the food, the alcohol, the caffeine.
MAAS: Right.
ZAHN: And we'll have to read your book.
MAAS: Thanks.
ZAHN: Dr. Maas, thanks for dropping by.
MAAS: Thanks, Paula.
ZAHN: Do you get your eight hours of sleep a night?
MAAS: I religiously do. And when I can't, I power nap.
ZAHN: See, that's a whole other thing you're going to have to come back and teach us how to do, ...
MAAS: I'd love to do that.
ZAHN: ... is power nap. Thanks again for your time.
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