9 ways to fall asleep faster

(CNN)If you feel wide awake when your head hits the pillow at night, you're not alone. Approximately 60 million Americans report having experienced insomnia in any given year, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Even worse, 40 million Americans suffer from long-term sleep disorders.

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Missing sleep is nothing to yawn about. "Chronic sleep deprivation has lots of negative consequences," says Sonia Ancoli-Israel, fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine. She notes that the health risks associated with missed zzz's can include poor cognitive function, problems with attention and concentration, dementia and an increased risk of heart disease.

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Are you getting enough shut-eye? Most adults need seven to eight hours of sleep a night, according to Dr. Ancoli-Israel. "People are so busy in their everyday lives and something has to give. They give up on sleep rather than something else," she says.

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