A joint white paper by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and the Sleep Research Society (SRS) emphasizing the importance of sleep and directed at the nation’s health stakeholders is being published in the June issue of the journal SLEEP.

“Sleep: A Health Imperative” summarizes the scientific evidence showing that sufficient sleep and circadian alignment in adults is as important to health as good nutrition and adequate exercise.   The paper specifically discusses the associations between sleep deficiency, defined as a state of inadequate or mistimed sleep, and major health risks such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes and cancer.   The paper also emphasizes that sleep deprivation is a threat to public safety because it increases the risk of work-related accidents and motor vehicle crashes.