7 Healthcast: Sleep study

The results of this phone survey suggest that a lot of us are taking work home with us, and paying the price.

Americans aren't getting enough sleep at night and, according to a National Sleep Foundation survey, that's leading to a drop in productivity and safety during the day.

"Something's got to give and what unfortunately gives is nighttime sleep," said Thomas Balkin of the National Sleep Foundation. "Approximately, a third of us report that we are drowsy at work once or twice per month."

Guards were caught napping on the job at a Pennsylvania nuclear plant, and the FAA received at least two separate reports of commercial airline pilots sleeping during flights.

Many of us are simply sleepy behind the wheel.

It can even hurt relationships.

"One in five of us report that our interest in sex and the frequency with which we engage in sex is reduced because of tiredness," Balkin said.

And experts say the only cure for tiredness, is sleep.

"You could even add fifteen minutes every night and it may add up to enough minutes for you over the course of a week," said sleep researcher Joyce Walsleben.

It's an eye-opening report on sleep, and why we need more.

The Sleep Foundation says employees should make sleep a priority, and suggests employers think about giving their workers a break, literally, for naps.

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