Insomnia ups serious illness & health risks
If left untreated, insomnia can increase the risk of developing potentially life-threatening conditions such as depression, diabetes and high blood pressure.
Unfortunately it’s a condition that all too often goes unrecognised and untreated, according to a review published online in The Lancet. The typical symptoms of insomnia include having difficulty falling or staying asleep, or feeling unrefreshed after a night's sleep. During the day people with insomnia can also suffer from fatigue, have trouble concentrating and experience mood disturbances.
The authors of the review, Dr Charles Morin from the Université Laval, Québec City, and Ruth Benca from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, said insomnia can lead to "substantial long-term effects" on people's physical and mental wellbeing. They said people suffering from insomnia are more than five times as likely to experience anxiety and depression, and are at more than double the risk of developing congestive heart failure and diabetes.
They highlighted a study which found that people with insomnia were seven times more likely to abuse alcohol or drugs. While many turn to over-the-counter medicines for the sleep disorder, the authors said there was "little evidence" of their effectiveness. According to the National Institutes of Health in the US, only two treatments – cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and approved hypnotic drugs – have sufficient evidence to support their use for the treatment of insomnia.
CBT uses psychological and behavioural methods such as relaxation techniques, sleep restriction, stimulus control, and education about sleep hygiene (e.g. diet, exercise, and the bedroom environment). In addition to being an effective treatment for insomnia, CBT does not carry the risk of side effects – a clear advantage over drug treatment.
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