Healthy sleep is essential for the proper functioning of the brain and body” (Infographic: how technology affects our sleep). Sleep is necessary for survival, so it's important that Americans get an optimal amount of sleep. The hours of sleep people receive per night have decreased over the last century. I believe that the increased use of technology, increased stress levels, combined with a sedentary lifestyle are just some of the factors responsible for the overall decrease in the number of hours of sleep per night over the last century. Unless we Americans change our habits and place a higher priority on restful sleep, this trend of decreasing hours of sleep per night will continue to increase, as will the unwanted effects of sleep.