Lack of Good Sleep Might Be Deadly(even hours or less each night over the l...),Health

Those with symptoms of depression, who were more educated, were unmarried, were black and earned more money seemed to experience poorer sleep and reported feeling less alert during the day.

"Insomnia is always very difficult to treat," Boethel said. "We do have medications, but what seems to work the best is cognitive behavioral therapy, which is working with patients to try to recognize what's keeping them awake."

As for how much sleep is enough, that varies from person to person, Boethel said.

"But the biggest population-based study found that people who sleep six to eight hours live the longest," he said.

More information

Visit the American Academy of Sleep Medicine for more on sleep health.

SOURCES: Nicholas Rummo, M.D., director, Center for Sleep Medicine, Northern Westchester Hospital Center, Mount Kisco, N.Y.; Carl Boethel, M.D., assistant professor, internal medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, section chief, pulmonary rehabilitation, and associate director, sleep disorders clinic, Scott & White; June 10, 2009, presentations, Associated Professional Sleep Societies annual meeting, Seattle