A National Sleep Foundation poll conducted through the University of California at San Diego has found that sleeplessness is plaguing the country and impacting everything from health and job performance to social lives and how frequently people have sex.

According to HealthDay, the survey of more than 1,000 adults across the country found that people sleep almost two hours less than they did 40 years ago.

More than three-quarters of respondents said they know that a lack of sleep can cause health problems.

"Sleep duration is a very important variable in health, especially cardiovascular health," the study’s Dr. Jose Loredo said. "There is a strong association of sleeping less and hypertension, sleeping less and heart attacks, sleeping less and obesity."

Among the other findings, 24 percent said they have missed work or social engagements because they were too tired and as many as 26 percent of married people or couples who live together said that they were too tired to have frequent sex.

The National Sleep Foundation says natural ways to help individuals sleep better include going to sleep and waking up at the same time, adapting a relaxing bedtime ritual or routine, avoiding television too close to bedtime, exercising regularly as well as reducing caffeine, nicotine and alcohol.

Nutritional supplements containing calcium, magnesium, vitamin B, chromium and melatonin may also be beneficial for sleep.