Are You Likely to Suffer from Insomnia?

Who’s most prone to insomnia?

It’s not uncommon for most of us to have trouble sleeping at some point. But certain groups of people are at a higher risk for insomnia than others. Find out what puts you at risk, what the consequences of excessive fatigue are and how to get treated.

• About 40-60 percent of seniors (age 60 and up) have insomnia due to inactivity, medical problems and prescription drugs.
• From age 16 to 50, men lose about 8 percent of their deep-sleep cycles.
• Women are twice as likely as men to have insomnia, which can be caused by hormone fluctuation due to menstruation, pregnancy and menopause.
• About 51 percent of people who are anxious have insomnia. More than 8 out of 10 insomniacs have an underlying issue causing their insomnia.
• About 90 percent of people who are depressed have insomnia.
• About 56 percent of people who are employed experience at least one symptom of insomnia a few times each week.
• About 30-40 percent of children don’t get enough sleep. In teenagers, later bedtimes, busy schedules and poor diet increase the likelihood of insomnia.

We sleep 20 percent less than we did a century ago. More than 70 million Americans have sleep disorders and 60 percent of these people have a chronic disorder. A quarter of Americans don’t get enough sleep to be fully alert.

Consequences of insomnia:

• Health: Daytime drowsiness, fatigue, compromised reaction time, anxiety, irritability and depression are all consequences of poor sleep. About 27 percent of people with sleep disorders gain a lot of weight.
• Vehicular: About 60 percent of people have driven while tired in the last year, while 37 percent (more than one third) have fallen asleep at the wheel.
• Exhaustion is the number one reason couples avoid or delay sex. About 10 million Americans use prescription sleep medication.

Treatment: Some lifestyle changes may help people with insomnia.

• Morning exercise
• Limiting caffeine intake
• Avoiding alcohol before sleeping
• Reducing distractions before sleeping