PALM BEACH GARDENS, Florida, Aug. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The power of a good night's sleep will be the topic of a keynote address by Arianna Huffington, among the most authoritative woman in media, at the 8^th Annual Employer Healthcare & Benefits Congress, Sept. 26-28, 2016, at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, outside Washington, D.C.

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Through a partnership with the National Sleep Foundation, she will lead a panel discussion on "How Sleep is Revolutionizing the Workplace" at the integrated Sleep Works Summit.

"No matter who we are, we share a common need for sleep," said Huffington, co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post, a nationally syndicated columnist, and author of thirteen books including "The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life, One Night at a Time." "Though this need has been a constant throughout human history, our relationship to sleep, and our understanding of its vital benefits has gone through dramatic ups and downs. And right now that relationship is in crisis."

Huffington said sleep deprivation is linked to diabetes, heart attack, stroke, cancer, obesity and Alzheimer's disease and has, in response, fueled a new market.

"People want more sleep," said Huffington, who has grown the Huffington Post into one of the most widely-read, linked to, and frequently cited media brands on the internet. "Hotel rooms are being transformed into sleep temples, schools are modifying start times to suit the sleep needs of teenagers, an exploding market in wearable technology has emerged that tracks our sleep, and a range of smart products — from smart mattresses to smart headphones — has entered our lives."

While sleep is becoming more hi-tech, that doesn't lessen the importance it plays in our day-to-day lives.

"Sleep is an essential part of our overall health and wellness, yet millions of Americans struggle to get the sleep they need," said David Cloud, CEO of the National Sleep Foundation. "We look forward to working with EHBC to highlight the importance of sleep health education to employers and how businesses can benefit from having well rested employees."

While the business case for encouraging good sleep habits is important, this still leaves out the millions of people lying awake at night because of a sleep disorder.

"Thousands of people suffer from sleep disorders that, unfortunately, go undiagnosed and untreated," said Renée-Marie Stephano, President and Chairwoman of the Corporate Health & Wellness Association. "The good news is that advances in this multidisciplinary and growing field have led to new drugs and research and the development of new products to help people with these conditions."

The Congress agenda also features the 5^th Healthy Foods in the Workplace Forum, the 4th Global Women's Leadership Summit, the 3^rd Wearables in the Workplace Employer Think Tank, 3^rd On-site Clinics in the Workplace Forum, the Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America Awards and the inaugural Financial Well-being Employer Forum, educational breakouts, and interactive workshops included among more than 1,000 networking meetings. Participants, sponsors and invited speakers can keep abreast of Congress updates at www.EmployerHealthcareCongress.com.  

About Corporate Health & Wellness Association
As the leading nonprofit trade organization for population health management, the Corporate Health & Wellness Association (CHWA) is dedicated to sharing employer best practices, trends and innovations in corporate health and wellness. By employers, for employers, CHWA is a trusted resource for HR/Benefits Executives, Wellness Managers, Agents, Brokers & Consultants and other Wellness stakeholders through professional designations, collaborative educational forums and the industry publication, Corporate Wellness Magazine, www.CorporateWellnessMagazine.com.  www.WellnessAssociation.com; Facebook; LinkedIn;

About Employer Healthcare & Benefits Congress
EHBC, one of the largest industry gathering in the United States, educates employers, agents, brokers & consultants and service providers, and hosts tracks on corporate wellness, healthcare reform, self-funding, voluntary benefits, global benefits, and benefits technology. www.EmployerHealthcareCongress.com; Facebook; Twitter

About National Sleep Foundation
National Sleep Foundation is dedicated to improving health and well-being through sleep education and advocacy. Founded in 1990 by the leaders in sleep medicine, NSF is the trusted resource for sleep science, healthy sleep habits, and sleep disorders to medical professionals, patients and the public.  www.sleepfoundation.org; www.sleep.org; Facebook; Twitter

Media Contact: Joseph Dawson, 1-561-7912000x814, jdawson@employerhealthcarecongress.com

Related Links

http://www.EmployerHealthcareCongress.com

SOURCE Employer Healthcare & Benefits Congress