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New poll shows stay-at-home moms top list of sleepy women

Posted: 03/07/07 at 1:39 pm EST

UNDATED -- If you're a woman, who spends her day with a coffeepot by her side, you're in good company.

According to new survey by the National Sleep Foundation, 60 percent of American women say they don't get enough “zzzzs.”

According to the poll, stay-at-home moms top the list of sleepy women. These women report everything, from trouble falling asleep to sleep troubles linked to co-sleeping with an infant of child.

These problems, experts say, can put the whole family in danger.

"Some of these women are putting their families at risk by driving while they're drowsy with kids in the car,” said Dr. Kathryn Lee, of University of California, San Francisco.

Running a close second are working mothers and single working women, who named insomnia as their chief sleep complaint. The poll found 20 percent of women report working right up until bedtime.

Dr. Mary Calhoun treats women who suffer with headaches linked to poor sleep. She said the message is clear.

"I've said so many times to patients that the foundations of good health are good diets good exercise and good sleep, but two out of three doesn't get you there!" said Mary Calhoun, of University or North Carolina.

Keeping a regular bedtime, reducing stress and avoiding caffeine at night can help.

According to the survey, 80 percent of women say that when they experience sleepiness during the day, they just work through it.

More than half said they use caffeine to help stay awake.

(Copyright 2007 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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