Feeling tired? If so, then you and 3.3 million other Canadians struggle with getting a decent night's sleep.

Noise pollution can have an adverse effect on sleep and overall health. Between the phone ringing, car horns, noisy household appliances, and loud neighbours, peace and quiet can be hard to come by. Noise pollution can cause annoyance, aggression, high blood pressure and increased stress levels. The result is a high-strung and sleep-deprived society.

People cope with noise pollution in their own way. From listening to CDs with sounds of the ocean to wearing ear plugs or noise-reducing headphones, there are a number of ways to minimize the unnecessary noise in our lives, both indoors and out.

This aversion to unwanted noise has led to the development of home appliances that operate more quietly, produce sounds more pleasant to the human ear, and are less disruptive to the home environment. Ask any teenager trying to sleep in or watch TV, and they will likely tell you that when it comes to appliances, the vacuum cleaner is public enemy number one.

With this in mind, Electrolux set out to not only reduce noise pollution inside the home, but also challenge the stereotype of noisy vacuum cleaners. Last year the company launched the UltraSilencer, a state-of-the-art vacuum developed using Electrolux's proprietary Silent Air Technology. UltraSilencer lives up to its name as the quietest vacuum cleaner ever. At 68 decibels (dB), it is 10 dB quieter than the average vacuum cleaner.

To put their quiet claim to the test, Electrolux conducted a Polysomnography, or sleep study, to explore how sleep is affected by the sound of a vacuum cleaner. Each subject spent one night in a room where a vacuum was continuously switched on and off, followed by one night without a vacuum present. The brain activity, eye movements and muscle activity of the subjects were monitored each night to track their various stages of sleep.

The controlled study showed it is possible to fall asleep, as well as to remain sleeping with someone vacuuming around you, as long as it is a quiet vacuum. In total, the test subjects remained asleep in 18 out of 21 times when the UltraSilencer was turned on.

Getting a good night's sleep is key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, increasing productivity and reducing stress. Consider some of the following factors that may improve your sleep:

Gadgets are no good
Turn off all those illuminating gadgets an hour before bed. Knowing that a work email has just arrived, a TV show is waiting to be watched, or a friend just updated their Facebook status can all contribute to this modern lack of sleep.

Bedtime = Brains
Research suggests that disrupting a child's sleep can lead to issues academically, particularly with maintaining their attention. Invest in quiet technologies that won't upset your home environment -- or sleeping children.

The Art of the Nap
Shift workers, truck drivers, and overworked parents are urged to nap regularly to catch-up on sleep. A well-timed nap can improve performance and alertness for hours afterwards (a 45-minute nap is said to improve alertness for up to six hours).

Minimizing distractions and reducing noise pollution will not only relax your family members in the quiet hours, it will improve your overall health and sanity.

For more information on Electrolux's Polysomnography Study or the Electrolux UltraSilencer, visit www.electrolux.ca

-- Julia Emmerich is European PR manager for Electrolux in Stockholm.

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For more information please contact:
Antonella Giancarlo, Pilot PMR for Electrolux Home Care Products Canada, 416-462-0199 Ext. 36