A patient once told me, "Doc, I can sleep when I'm dead." I reminded him that it might happen sooner than he expected! Burning the candle at both ends may make you more productive, but it won't make you healthier. Over half of American adults experience some difficulty sleeping or don't get enough sleep on a regular basis. Sleep disorders have been linked with serious health problems such as high blood pressure and heart attacks. Sleep deprivation also may be an important factor in weight gain and obesity. While it's best to get the sleep you need every night (ideally seven to eight hours), it's also possible to make up for lost sleep by taking a quick nap in the afternoon or sleeping in on the weekends.