Insomnia and Sleep Statistics To Know

Insomnia is one of the most common medical complaints in the U.S., accounting for over 5 million office visits per year. Lack of sleep has been strongly linked to several serious health conditions, including dementia and Alzheimer’s. Did you know:

  • 33–66% of adults report insomnia symptoms of some severity

  • 10-15% of these individuals suffer from chronic insomnia with daytime consequences

  • Insomnia is especially common in older adults and women

Insomnia and Your Health

Insomnia frequently precedes the development of mental and physical health disorders. Insomnia is common in patients with neurologic disorders as well.

Co-morbidities are very common. In fact, approximately 50% of individuals with chronic insomnia have comorbid mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Many medical conditions are associated with insomnia, such as:

  • Pulmonary disease such as COPD
  • Hypertension
  • Diabetes
  • Cancer
  • Chronic pain
  • Heart failure
  • Fibromyalgia, arthritis, enlarged prostate, heart disease, menopause, hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, skin disorders, and gastrointestinal disorders such as gastroesophageal reflux disease

Chronic Insomnia and Your Sleep

Everyone suffers from occasional acute insomnia, such as jet lag. However, chronic insomnia has significant and potentially serious long-term consequences, including:

  • Decreased quality of life secondary to increased fatigue, sleepiness, confusion, tension, anxiety, and depression

  • Increased absence from work, poor work performance, increased medical issues, and increased emotional burden

  • Increased risk of cognitive dysfunction including memory issues, problem solving issues, and problem to execute functions

  • A significant increased risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease

Over-the-Counter and Prescription Sleep Aids

Many over-the-counter sleep aids block a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine (Ach), which can increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Benadryl (Diphenhydramine), which is present in many OTC sleep aids like:

  • Zzzquil
  • Tylenol PM
  • Advil PM

Prescription sleep aids include:

  • Elavil (Amitriptyline)
  • Silenor (Doxepin)
  • Vistaril, Atarax (Hydroxyzine)
  • Seroquel (Quetiapine)

Studies also show that commonly prescribed sleep aids may also increase the risk of dementia. These sleep aids include:

  • Ambien (Zolpidem)
  • Lunesta (Eszopiclone)
  • Sonata (Zaleplon)
  • Benzodiazepines such as Klonopin (Clonazepam), Restoril (Temazepam), Xanax (Alprazolam), Ativan (Lorazepam), Halcion (Triazolam), and Valium (Diazepam)

Chronic insomnia and poor sleep are associated with many serious long-term issues. Long-term use of prescriptions sleep aids and even diphenhydramine (Benadryl and the “PM” drugs) can increase risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Sip2Sleep® is a simple product with just two natural ingredients not shown to impact brain health, but rather to naturally improve sleep and mood.