It happens to most Americans at some point in their lives―the sweet, blisstul sleep of childhood is replaced by glaring at the digital clock at all hours and countless 3 a.m. pillow adjustments. Like the common cold, the origins of insomnia can be mysterious, as sleep can be affected by factors as varied as food and drink, mental state or physical pain. Twenty-two percent of Americans can't get to sleep or stay asleep on a regular basis, and sleep loss accounts for more than $18 billion in lost productivity on the job. Sleepiness also causes a large number of car accidents as drivers nod at the wheel. Insomnia affects the poor and the elderly disproportionately. .
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