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| Insomnia Statistics |  There are about 10-20% of people that suffer from insomnia in the United States, and about the same rate of severe sleeplessness occurs in Europe. But the survey that has been conducted in the beginning of this century reported even worse statistics on sleeplessness in the United States:
- Only 35% of Americans slept eight hours or more per night during the work week.
- About 56% had one or more symptoms of insomnia a few nights a week or more.
- Approximately 60% children, especially teenagers, reported of being tired during the day.
Gender
Women suffer from insomnia more often than men, although men are not immune from this sleep disorder. Sleep effectiveness worsen equally in men and women as they get older.
 Men. One study suggested that as men go from age 16 to 50, they lose about 80% of their deep sleep. During that period, light sleep increases and REM sleep stays unchanged. After age of 44 REM and total sleep reduce and awakenings increase.
Women. Cultural and biological factors may cause insomnia in younger adult women:
- Such hormonal events in women as menstruation, premenstrual syndrome, pregnancy, and menopause can disturb their sleep. All these conditions are natural, that’s why the sleeplessness associated with them is temporary and can be improved with sleep hygiene and time.
- After delivery, most women become very sensitive to the sounds of their children, which awake them easily.
Older women, who don’t suffer from sleeplessness as a rule, have longer and better sleep than men of their age.
Aging
Insomnia is more common among people over the age of 65 than in those aged 18 to 34. As people get older, sleep changes:
- About 15% of elderly people’s sleeping time is in stage 1, so-called light sleep.
- Elderly people are more sensitive to surrounding factors, such as noise, light, or jet lag.
- Older people tend to lead sedentary lifestyle.
- Such medical conditions as gastrointestinal distress, arthritis, heart conditions, and urination problems can cause pain or nighttime distress.
- Different hormonal shifts also occur, including reductions in melatonin and growth hormone and increases in stress hormones, creating a misbalance that may reduce all stages of sleep.
- Elderly people often take different prescription drugs whose side effects include insomnia.
- Older people are also prone to depression, anxiety, and grief that cause sleeplessness.
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