Insomnia may be experienced for a few days, for two to three weeks, or it may be chronic, lasting for three weeks or more. Many people experience insomnia, particularly women before and at the onset of the menstrual cycle, during pregnancy and menopause. You may need to see a physician or sleep specialist.
- Forty-eight percent of Americans report insomnia occasionally, while 22 percent experience insomnia every or almost every night.1
- Women are 1.3 times more likely to report insomnia than men.1
- People over age 65 are 1.5 times more likely to complain of insomnia than younger people.1
- Divorced, widowed and separated people report more insomnia.1
Insomnia can have a very serious impact on quality of life, productivity and safety.
- People with insomnia are four times as likely to suffer from depression than people who sleep well.2
- Lack of sleep due to insomnia may contribute to illness, including heart disease 3
- Safety on the job, at home, and on the road may be affected by sleepiness.2
- People with insomnia may miss more time from work or receive fewer promotions.2
References:
- Center for Disease Control, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), 2009
- Strine TW, Chapman DP. Associations of frequent sleep insufficiency with health-related quality of life and health behaviors. Sleep Med 2005;6:23–7.
- Institute of Medicine. Sleep disorders and sleep deprivation: an unmet public health problem. Washington, DC. National Academies Press; 2006.