We have become so sleep deprived that most people would rather get a good night’s sleep than have sex. In a new survey of 12,500 travelers from a dozen countries, 51% chose sleep over sex. In a similar survey a decade ago, only 31% preferred sleep. Conducted for Westin Hotels & Resorts, the survey echoes numerous scientific studies showing that Americans are running short on sleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation, 30% of Americans report trouble sleeping. Prescriptions for sleep medications have risen 7% over the past two years. According to data from pharmaceutical consultant IMS Health, 56,287,000 prescriptions for sleep aids were dispensed last year.
Chronic insomnia can drive people to take extreme measures in search of relief. Michael Jackson’s death catapulted insomnia into the headlines when investigators discovered he had been using the powerful sedative Diprivan and other drugs to combat sleeplessness. Diprivan may have contributed to Jackson’s death. Drugs alone won’t cure insomnia, experts say.
“Everyone’s instinct is to think this is something I can manage on my own,” sleep researcher Michael Perlis, an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania, told USA Today in an online article. “The problem is, insomnia is a little bit like a fire. Initially, it’s just a few sparks. Next thing you know, it jumps the fire pit and it’s burning the forest.”
Most people wait too long to treat insomnia. Most adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night to stay physically and mentally healthy. While the occasional sleepless night is normal, sleep experts recommend seeing your doctor if insomnia lasts more than 2 to 3 days. Self-medicating with alcohol or over-the-counter sleeping pills can make the problem worse and can cause dangerous side effects that increase your health risk.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy, sometimes augmented by medication, provides the most successful treatment for insomnia, according to a study published in the May issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia should be conducted by a board certified psychiatrist like Dr. Tracey Marks who has expertise in treating insomnia and other sleep disorders. If you are having trouble sleeping, take control of the problem and contact Dr. Marks today.
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