Today is the World Sleep Day: Sleep like a Baby!

This day aims to lessen the burden of sleep problems on society through better prevention and management of sleep disorders.

Some surprising insights from the general insomnia statistics:

• People today sleep 20% less than they did 100 years ago.
• More than 30% of the population suffers from insomnia.
• One in three people suffer from some form of insomnia during their lifetime.
• Between 40% and 60% of people over the age of 60 suffer from insomnia.
• Women are up to twice as likely to suffer from insomnia as men.
• Approximately 35% of insomniacs have a family history of insomnia.
• 90% of people who suffer from depression also experience insomnia.
• People who suffer from sleep deprivation are 27% more likely to become overweight or obese. There is also a link between weight gain and sleep apnea.
• A National Sleep Foundation Poll shows that 60% of people have driven while feeling sleepy (and 37% admit to having fallen asleep at the wheel) in the past year.
• A recent Consumer Reports survey showed the top reason couples gave for avoiding sex was “too tired or need sleep.”
• The data surrounding insomnia aren’t confined to the relationship between insomnia and health. This sleep disorder costs government and industry billions of dollars a year.
• All the sobering statistics underscore the importance of enhancing sleep disorder awareness and why individuals need to seek immediate treatment for the health and the well-being of others.

Sources: National Sleep Foundation, Better Sleep Council, Max Zeller Söhne AG, WHO, @WorldSleep