A whole lot of people are sleepless in America.
A just-published survey of Consumer Reports subscribers found 60 percent of people frequently had trouble getting to sleep or were waking up in the night and unable to get back to sleep.
The number one reason for tossing and turning was work-related stress, followed by health problems and financial troubles. That is according to the survey of more than 26,000 subscribers.
When they asked people what helped them sleep "tighter," the top answer was medications. Forty percent said over-the-counter drugs like Tylenol PM, Advil PM and Nyquil helped. However, 70 percent said newer prescription meds like Ambien and the generic zolpidem worked better.
However, the poll found a serious drawback. Many people were overusing the prescriptions, taking them 27 out of the last 30 nights. Most are approved for a maximum of 10 days. Using them longer can lead to rebound insomnia, dependency and next-day grogginess.
At least 25 percent of those polled said alternative therapies like yoga or meditation worked for them.
And, 40 percent said a white-noise machine helped them sleep better.