About 20% of adults in the United States may occasionally or regularly take medication to help them fall asleep or stay asleep, according to data recently released in January.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data summary from the National Center for Health Statistics, about 8.4% of adults in the United States take medication every day or almost every day to stay asleep or fall asleep. I discovered that
An additional 10% of adults may fall asleep or stay asleep on “several days” of sleeping pills.
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“The recent data that up to 20 percent of Americans use medications to help them sleep is staggering,” said a pulmonologist who is co-owner of Southern California’s Pacific Coast Critical Care Group. Expert Dr. Baljinder S. Sidu said:
He added that it was alarming “especially in the face of mounting evidence of harm and mortality associated with such drugs, even if used for a short period of time.”
In a new study, researchers analyzed data from the 2020 National Health Interview Survey of adults ages 18 and older to determine the proportion of men and women who used medication for sleep.
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The study results came from a health survey that asked participants if they had taken sleeping pills in the past 30 days.
“In 2020, 6.3% of adults took sleeping pills every day in the past 30 days, 2.1% took pills almost every day, 10.0% took some pills some days, and 81.6% took no pills at all. No,” the report said.
Across all age groups, women were more likely to take sleeping pills than men.
“Among all adults, sleeping pill use increased with increasing age and decreased with increasing income, and was higher among non-Hispanic white adults compared with adults of other races and Hispanic groups. high,” the report said of its key findings.
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Researchers analyzed data from the 2020 National Health Interview Survey of adults ages 18 and older to determine the proportion of men and women who used medication for sleep.
The study found that adults took sleeping pills as they got older.
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Hypnotics were defined as “taking medications to fall asleep or stay asleep nearly every day, or every day, during the past 30 days, depending on the selected sociodemographic characteristics”.
Details of research results
The study found that adults took sleeping pills as they got older. “From 5.6% of those aged 18-44, to 10.1% of those aged 45-64, to 11.9% of those aged 65 and over,” the report said.
Across all age groups, women were more likely to take sleeping pills than men.
Caucasian men are most likely to use sleeping pills, and Asian men are least likely.
Men with the highest family income were the least likely to use sleeping pills.
Men with the highest household income were least likely to use sleeping pills compared with low- and middle-income groups.
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“Hispanic men were more likely to take sleeping pills than non-Hispanic Asian men, but there was no difference between these groups in women,” notes the report.
Why do people have trouble sleeping?
The CDC points out on its website that there are three common problems with sleep.
Common issues are: 1) Difficulty falling asleep. 2) I can’t sleep. 3) Get up early.
The most common sleep problems are: Difficulty staying asleep; and getting up early.
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According to the CDC, the human body has an internal clock that is reset daily by the sun’s light-dark cycle.
This clock has a 24-hour circadian rhythm to help you fall asleep and wake up.
The Sleep Foundation says sleeping pills shouldn’t be on the front line of insomnia treatment.
According to the CDC’s website, the hormone called melatonin peaks in the body early in the morning, around 2:00 to 4:00 am, and then stops being produced later in the morning.
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“Normally, the body increases. [the] Evening melatonin levels one to two hours before your usual bedtime,” added the CDC.
According to the Sleep Foundation website, “Because they can be addictive and often come with side effects, the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommend using other techniques before resorting to pharmaceutical sleep aids. We recommend that you
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While it’s possible to purchase melatonin in supplement form or by prescription, the CDC warns that it should be taken at times appropriate to your sleep cycle.
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The Sleep Foundation points out that sleeping pills shouldn’t be on the front line of treating insomnia.
According to the Sleep Foundation website, “Because they are addictive and often come with side effects, the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommend using other techniques before resorting to pharmaceutical sleep aids. is recommended.
Studies estimate that the risk of death from sleeping pills is 1.5 to 5 times higher.
“Non-pharmacological/prescription therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), light therapy when appropriate, should be pursued before resorting to sleeping pills,” noted Dr. Sidhu of California.
Use sleeping pills with caution
Sidhu pointed out that studies estimate that the risk of death from sleeping pills is 1.5 to 5 times higher.
Sleeping pills “can give you a false sense of what normal sleep should feel like”.
“Additionally, sleeping pills have been associated with daytime deterioration and even disruption of normal sleep architecture (our normal sleep patterns),” he said.
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These medications “can give you a false sense of what normal sleep should feel like, further contributing to the belief that sleep will not be restored unless you are in a medicated coma.”
Rather than relying on sleeping pills first to get a good night’s sleep, “treating underlying conditions can have a positive impact on sleep,” says one medical expert.
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This may lead individuals to seek stronger medications for “quality” sleep, he noted.
“One such extreme case in which an anesthetic was used to deal with a celebrity’s insomnia resulted in his death.”
Sidhu recommends a thorough evaluation for insomnia first.
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This includes ruling out depression, hormonal imbalances such as those caused by thyroid disease or menopause, and side effects of medications.
It also means looking at underlying medical issues that may be contributing to sleep problems, such as chronic illnesses.
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“Treatment of the underlying condition may have a better effect on sleep,” he said.
