The Facts About Insomnia

In my opinion it seems strange, and more than a little worrying, that the facts about insomnia (and other sleep-related disorders) remain relatively unknown, or misunderstood, by so many people.

Here in the United States, insomnia is the most common, recognized sleep disorder and it affects over 30 million people.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, people today are sleeping less than they did 100 years ago. 20% less in fact. In a 24/7 society there just doesn't seem to be time for sleep, but the cost of insomnia is too high to ignore.

A study published in 1999 indicated that the direct cost of insomnia to the US economy was just under $14 BILLION. That only includes things like sleep medications and healthcare costs. What kind of frightening figures could we be looking at today?

The indirect costs are also huge. Recent studies show that sleep deprivation costs US companies almost $150 BILLION dollars in absenteeism and reduced productivity. According to the National Sleep Foundation, drowsy drivers are responsible for around 100,000 accidents a year and cause up to $12.5 BILLION worth of property damage.

Despite these figures being so enormous, they pale in comparison to the personal price we pay for our sleeplessness. Those same auto accidents also leave 1,550 people dead and 71,000 injured every year - and these are only using US figures.

Although less dramatic, the individual cost of untreated insomnia is frightening. These facts about insomnia show that it results in an increased rate of aging, and some very serious health conditions, and the truth of the matter is - chronic insomnia can kill you, albeit indirectly.

Did you know?

• 1 in 3 people will suffer from some form of insomnia during their lifetime.


• Women are twice as likely as men to suffer from insomnia


• Insomnia doesn't just affect young to middle-aged adults, but also children, teens and the elderly.


• Between 40% and 60% of people over 60 suffer from insomnia


• Chronic insomniacs have a significantly higher risk of certain medical conditions such as heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes and depression. Some of these can prove fatal


• People with insomnia have an above average chance of falling victim to addictions such as alcoholism, drug abuse and smoking.


• Research shows that insomnia plays a significant role in many attempted suicides

What next?

Whether you suffer from only transient insomnia, or have struggled for years with this as a chronic condition, it's vital to seek help in getting an accurate diagnosis.

You can take our Self Administered Insomnia Test to help decide if you may be an insomniac.