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(KSL News) -- Whether you wake up to an alarm clock, or to Utah's Morning News with Grant and Amanda, you may still feel tired in the morning.
You are not alone.
A new "Today Show" poll shows 47 percent of Americans say they don't get enough sleep, and about one-quarter get less than six hours a night.
Health officials say there's a 20 year trend of Americans reporting less sleep. They say work and play are stealing our sleep-time. Medical conditions are also causing more problems.
It's estimated that at least ten percent of Americans suffer with insomnia; another five to seven percent with chronic snoring!
They snore, toss and turn and even kick. According to the National Institutes of Health, more than 70 million Americans aren't sleeping well at night - and are paying the price during the day.
Cathie Fanning, Sleep Lab Patient: "Even stopping at a red light, I could doze off. That's how tired I've been."
According to government statistics, every year sleepiness is linked to more than 100 thousand car crashes, 50 billion dollars in lost productivity and is a risk factor for everything from obesity to attention deficit disorder. Recent research even links chronic snoring to marriage troubles!
It's a national health problem that has become a multi-billion dollar business with gadgets like stop snoring strips and sprays, over the counter remedies like melatonin, which the latest studies suggest doesn't work much better than placebo, and a growing prescription sleeping pill market - fueled in part, say experts - by massive ad campaigns by drug companies.
Charles Bae, MD / Cleveland Clinic: "One of the potential problems would be people looking for this magic pill-some quick fix to help them sleep without really addressing what's causing their difficulty sleeping, falling asleep or staying asleep."
Cleveland Clinic Sleep Specialist Dr. Charles Dae says a number of underlying conditions can cause trouble sleeping, so it's important to get the right diagnosis.
Meantime, scientists are busy studying our slumber, uncovering genetics and other clues all in an effort to help more Americans get a good night Sleep.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine lists more than 80 chronic sleeping disorders, from apnea, which causes interrupted breathing, to restless leg syndrome.
Doctors say people need to prioritize getting more sleep, and even find time for naps when possible.
