Better Sleep Council Wants to Cure Zombie Brides of Zombieitis!

ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Better Sleep Council (BSC) warns that brides throughout the world are developing Zombieitis at unprecedented rates! Zombieitis, a condition triggered by sleep deprivation, can cause sufferers to exhibit Zombie-like symptoms, including bags under the eyes, weight gain, slow gait, distracted disposition and apathy.

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The BSC is dedicated to eradicating Zombieitis, and this wedding season it is focusing its efforts on "Zombie Brides." Planning a wedding can be very exciting, but it can also be very stressful. Brides are tasked with planning the ceremony, the reception, guest list, favors, dealing with family politics and drama — the list goes on and on. On top of all of this, many brides want to get into tip-top shape to look their best on their wedding day. Brides are often so wrapped up in the wedding planning process that they forget the most important element — a good night's sleep. As the wedding season approaches, brides around the world are at high risk of developing Zombieitis, and becoming Zombie Brides.

In May, the BSC launched the Stop Zombieitis campaign to warn all consumers about the dangers of Zombieitis, inform them of the cure, and to help stop the spread of Zombieitis. Beginning this June, the BSC is targeting one of the highest risk groups — brides.

For a bride, her wedding day is one of the most important days of her life. Brides want to be as alert and healthy as possible. Getting the right amount of sleep allows a bride to enjoy her special day, and alleviates stress during the wedding planning process. Sleep makes brides look more refreshed, saving them hundreds of dollars in expensive skin treatments. Studies show that 45 percent of women agree that they feel more refreshed after a good night's sleep.

"Sleep deprivation can make everything feel overwhelming and will alter a bride's mood on her big day," stated Karin Mahoney, BSC's director of communications, "it can turn a bride into a 'Zombie Bride' and make the day much more stressful for everyone involved."

And for brides that want to get in shape before the big day, the number one most important ingredient in a diet is sleep. Studies have shown that dieters who get less than the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep each night lose less weight. In fact, some studies have found that sleep may be more important for weight loss than even diet!  "Sleep loss is associated with striking alterations in hormone levels that regulate the appetite," says Dr. Michael Thorpy, director of the Sleep-Wake Disorders Center at Montefiore Medical Center in New York. "Anyone making a commitment to lose weight should probably consider a parallel commitment to getting more sleep."

To learn more about the campaign, visit www.bettersleep.org. For up-to-the-minute news on campaign activities, please visit the following social media channels:

Campaign Microsite: www.StopZombieitis.com/brides

Facebook: facebook.com/StopZombieitis

Twitter: twitter.com/StopZombieitis

Youtube: youtube.com/user/StopZombieitis

About the Better Sleep Council

The Better Sleep Council is the consumer education arm of the International Sleep Products Association, the trade association for the mattress industry. With a quarter century invested in improving America's quality of sleep, the BSC educates consumers on the critical link between sleep and health, as well as the role of the sleep environment. This is primarily done through an informative consumer website www.bettersleep.org, partner support, and proactive consumer media outreach.

SOURCE Better Sleep Council