Each year, at least 40 million people in the United States suffer from chronic sleep disorders, and another 30 million are troubled with occasional sleep problems. These disorders account for an estimated $16 billion in medical costs alone. The effects of sleeplessness include daytime fatigue, impaired mood and judgment, poor performance, and an increased likelihood of accidents at home, in the workplace, and while driving. As evidence mounts on the importance of sleep, the development of safe and effective treatment for sleeplessness continues to be a priority for sleep researchers. |
Sleeplessness is the complaint of:
Data presented at a recent conference on management of chronic sleeplessness suggest that about 30 percent of the general population have complaints of sleep disruption, while approximately 10 percent have associated symptoms of daytime functional impairment. Sleeplessness may be primary, or not directly associated with any other health condition or problem, or secondary to some underlying health condition, such as depression, heartburn, cancer, asthma, arthritis, or as a result of medications or drugs, including alcohol and caffeine. |
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