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health1d ago
Why insomnia is an American health crisis
- Latest finding: one in three American adults don’t get enough sleep, signaling a broad public health issue.
- Chronic insomnia affects about 12% of Americans, prompting concern over long-term health risks.
- Insomnia symptoms vs. insomnia disorder: doctors distinguish persistent sleep problems from formal diagnoses.
- Sleep needs vary; guidelines often cite seven to nine hours, but individual needs differ.
- Sleep opportunity is shaped by social factors like poverty, safety, and work demands, not just biology.
- Experts urge treating sleep as a health pillar, alongside diet and exercise, with policy ideas like later school start times.
- Common self-help approaches range from sleep routines to supplements, though evidence varies.
- Prescription sleep medications have mixed evidence; some carry safety concerns, including sleep-walking risks.
- Rising awareness of sleep health contrasts with limited clinician training and time for sleep discussions.
- Urgent need for public health action links sleep health to broader social policies and community conditions.
- Experts emphasize a practical, individualized approach: align sleep with circadian rhythms and avoid overreliance on quick fixes.
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