Impact of poor sleep

Problems falling asleep or staying asleep are common – and to wake refreshed the next morning, you need good quality and a good quantity of sleep. Approximately 10-15% of people living in the UK have problems sleeping which is a form of insomnia.

There are many reasons why we don’t get a good night’s sleep but the result is usually the same; lack of energy, an inability to concentrate or function fully the next day and grumpiness. The occasional sleepless night will not cause you any harm, but long-term, ongoing lack of quality sleep is associated with an inability to concentrate, feeling tired all the time, depression, weight gain, high blood pressure and can even contribute towards diabetes.

Older people and the elderly, particularly those over the age of 65, appear more vulnerable to ongoing sleep problems that are a form of insomnia. This is largely due to sleep-related changes within the body, which occur naturally as we age.

References

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Sateia MJ, Nowell PD. Insomnia. Lancet 2004; 364 (9449): 1959–1973.

Adapted from the Sleep Well online leaflet from the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Accessed February 2009. http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalhealthinfo/problems/sleepproblems/sleepingwell.aspx

Zisapel. N, Sleep and sleep disturbances: biological basis and clinical implications. Cell.Mol.Life.Sci.64(2007) 1174-1186

Roth T Insomnia: definition, prevalence, etiology, and consequences J Clin Sleep Med 2007;3(5 Suppl):S7-10

Ancoli-Israel S. The impact and prevalence of chronic insomnia and other sleep disturbances associated with chronic illness. Am J Manag Care 2006; 12 (8 Suppl): S221–S229