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WHO GETS INSOMNIA
Although insomnia
affects people of all ages and genders, certain groups of people
are more likely to be affected by this condition than others. Specifically,
people with underlying medical or psychiatric conditions, women
(especially over the age of 40), the elderly, shift workers and
frequent travelers are especially susceptible to insomnia and sleep
difficulties.1,2
Insomnia
in Women
Women are approximately
30 percent more likely to have insomnia than men1
Several conditions
specific to women may lead to insomnia:
- Hormonal
fluctuations during the menstrual cycle
- Menopause
or peri-menopause
- Pregnancy
Women have
a higher prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders, which may
also lead to insomnia
Insomnia
in the Elderly
Sixty-seven
percent of elderly adults report they have trouble sleeping at least
a few nights a week2
Certain medical
conditions common among the elderly, such as arthritis, may lead
to insomnia
Insomnia
in People with Underlying Medical or Psychiatric Conditions
Most adults
diagnosed with depression report a sleep disturbance and are at
an especially high risk for insomnia. Most elderly people diagnosed
with depression (82%) report having a sleep problem3
Chronic pain,
including headache and pain associated with arthritis and cancer,
is often linked with insomnia
Insomnia
in Shift Workers and Frequent Travelers
Approximately
22 million Americans are shift workers4
Shift work
may require people to fight the natural sleep/wake pattern by sleeping
during the day and working at night and/or not maintaining a routine
sleep schedule. These changes can lead to:
- An inability
to fall asleep and stay asleep during allotted sleep time
- Strained
relationships with family members and friends
- Fatigue and
diminished productivity at work
A U.S. survey
found that 94 percent of long distance travelers suffered from the
effects of jet lag and that 45 percent considered those symptoms
severely bothersome5
1.
"Facts About Insomnia" - National Institutes of Health
2. 2003 Sleep in America Poll - National Sleep Foundation
3. "Sleep & Aging" - National Sleep Foundation
4. http://www.sleepfoundation.org/publications/shiftworker.cfm
5. The Upjohn Company. Tips for Overcoming Jet Lag (leaflet). Kalamazoo,
MI: The Upjohn Co., nd.
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