"I slept wherever I could. Twenty minutes at lunch. During production meetings. In my car. I remember being filled with rage when childless people would talk about brunch.” Sound like you after a horrible night’s sleep? That’s the sardonic account of Amy Poehler, actress, comedian, writer, producer, and renaissance-woman-with-kids-and-sleep-apnea.

If you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, or if you find yourself nodding off during the day, you’re not alone.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sleep disorders are so pervasive in the United States that they now constitute a public health epidemic.  Research conducted by the CDC indicates that large numbers of Americans experience problems associated with lack of sufficient sleep.  For example:

Last year we wrote a post on—that’s right—marijuana as a potential treatment for sleep apnea. Since then, midterm elections have brought a new wave of legalization to the West Coast: Alaska and Oregon both decriminalized recreational use of the drug. So we thought it was worthwhile to take a second look at whether pot, scientifically or politically, could become a valid treatment for sleep apnea.

My shelves are stacked with books I've read and planned to read in 2014. This year many were of the health & wellness variety. The health and wellness market continues to grow (here's a list of 10 fastest growing US industries--hot sauce is #3--who knew?). Americans are spending money on getting healthy including books, wearable tech devices and health monitors and healthier fast food.

Feeling tired, sapped of energy, and constantly ready to fall asleep? Are you irritable, unable to concentrate and have trouble completing simple tasks...but can't figure out why? If you don’t have sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome, your spouse doesn’t snore or there are no outside influences disrupting your sleep, then sleeping with pets could be responsible for poor quality sleep. There are dozens of reasons why pets are good for us, including emotional and psychological health. On the other hand, that same pet snuggled up against you in bed might be causing emotional and psychological disruption.

Sleep disorders can affect the way people function on a day-to-day basis. According to one study, they may affect certain groups of people more than others. Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) claim they are particularly troublesome for firefighters, who are at an increased risk of motor vehicle accidents and health problems when affected by a sleep disorder.

In light of the car crash last month that seriously injured comedian Tracy Morgan, more attention is being drawn to the grave safety issue of truck drivers nodding off on the job. If a motorist has sleep apnea--a health condition that impairs quality of sleep and increases drowsiness--the risk of an accident is even greater.

Doctors have known since the 1980s that sleep apnea is closely related to high blood pressure. Recent studies are confirming that sleep apnea is a direct cause of this serious health problem, and that using a CPAP machine as treatment for sleep disorders can significantly and immediately reduce blood pressure.

With the Fourth of July rapidly approaching, we’re all looking forward to a delicious backyard barbeque, celebrating with friends and family, and especially the nighttime fireworks display. What we might not be anticipating is the late-night cacophony that these explosions and celebrations cause. Learn here how to enjoy the festivities without the fidgety night!

Last week, a Chinese man was found dead in front of his TV after staying up for several nights in a row to watch the World Cup.

The cause? Sleep deprivation.