People in Japan, Taiwan and Sweden have the biggest struggle with insomnia globally, searching for 'can't sleep' more than any other country around the world.
Nearly half (48%) of all Australian adults report at least 2 sleep-related problems. Too much or too little sleep is associated with an increased risk of chronic health conditions and risk factors.
Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder, with 30% of adults experiencing short-term insomnia. About 10% of people have long-lasting insomnia. Almost 40% of people report accidentally falling asleep during the day.
Various studies worldwide have shown the prevalence of insomnia in 10%–30% of the population, some even as high as 50%–60%. It is common in older adults, females, and people with medical and mental ill health.
Insomnia is very common. It affects people of all ages, including children, but is more common in adults and the elderly. In a recent study of sleep habits among New Zealanders, 45% of participants reported experiencing insomnia symptoms at least once per week.
Anyone can get insomnia, but it affects more women than men. More than one in four women in the United States experience insomnia, compared with fewer than one in five men.
The longest time a human being has gone without sleep is 11 days and 25 minutes. The world record was set by … American 17-year-old Randy Gardner in 1963.
Insomnia in children can begin at any time, from infancy through adolescence, and in some cases can develop into a long-term problem. Symptoms can include: bedtime refusal and struggles going to bed.
Shortened life expectancy
A more recent study looked at the effects of persistent insomnia and mortality over 38 years. The researchers found that those with persistent insomnia had a 97 percent increased risk of death.
Results by age group:
29% of 18 to 24-year-olds say they experience insomnia every night. 17% of adults over 65 say they experience insomnia every night, making it the least likely age group to suffer from nightly insomnia, per the study.
Insomnia and mortality: a meta-analysis
There was no difference in the odds of mortality for those individuals with symptoms of insomnia when compared to those without symptoms (OR= 1.06, 95%CI=0.61-1.84, p=. 84).
According to Optimum Sleep the average adult should get between seven and eight hours sleep a night. But while the data shows that while two in three (68%) achieve this, one in three (32%) Australians do not.
Most of us (58%) have difficulty falling asleep or tend to wake up too frequently, while 21% of Aussies just simply don't get enough sleep… they just need more time in the day! Our 2022 Australian Sleep Awareness Week Survey has also revealed that up to 14% of Australians have consistently very poor sleep.
People with insomnia can't fall asleep, stay asleep or get enough restful slumber. Insomnia is a common sleep disorder. Over time, lack of sleep can lead to health issues like diabetes, hypertension and weight gain. Behavioral and lifestyle changes can improve your rest.
Lack of concentration is a major insomnia effect. An exhausted brain can't adequately focus on the important tasks and priorities at hand—especially not for extended periods of time. Critical thinking and problem-solving skills are also negatively impacted by prolonged sleep deprivation.
75% of individuals with acute insomnia were able to make a full recovery after about 12 months. 22% of individuals still struggled with acute recurring insomnia. 3% of individuals went on to develop chronic insomnia.
It's not always clear what triggers insomnia, but it's often associated with: stress and anxiety. a poor sleeping environment – such as an uncomfortable bed, or a bedroom that's too light, noisy, hot or cold. lifestyle factors – such as jet lag, shift work, or drinking alcohol or caffeine before going to bed.
Taking a bath, listening to soft music and meditation can all help calm you down before bed. Reading for 30 minutes each night can also provide you with big benefits – one study found it was associated with lower blood pressure and heart rate, and significant reductions in stress.
Insomnia is rarely an isolated medical or mental illness but rather a symptom of another illness to be investigated by a person and their medical doctors. In other people, insomnia can be a result of a person's lifestyle or work schedule.
To promote your bed-sleep connection, follow the quarter-of-an-hour rule: if you notice that you aren't asleep within around 15 minutes of going to bed, try getting out of bed, go to another room go through your wind down routine until you are feeling sleepy-tired and ready to return to bed for sleep.
Acute insomnia lasts from 1 night to a few weeks. Insomnia is chronic when it happens at least 3 nights a week for 3 months or more.
Other weird records
Previously, Peter Tripp held the first record at 201 hours and suffered from hallucinations for several days after. Between Peter and Randy, Honolulu DJ Tom Rounds made it to 260 hours. Randy tapped out at 264 hours, and slept for 14 hours straight after.
Recent findings: Women have better sleep quality compared with men, with longer sleep times, shorter sleep-onset latency and higher sleep efficiency. Despite this, women have more sleep-related complaints than men. The amount of slow-wave sleep decreases with age in men and women.