Increase of Insomnia Among Adolescents San Francisco CA

Good health and happiness are impossible when we are robbed of sleep for very long. For many people, this is all too often a way of life. One of mankind's oldest complaints, insomnia is the chronic inability to fall asleep or to stay asleep. While everyone occasionally experiences a sleepless night now and then without harm, long-term insomnia can be debilitating. After yet another night of inadequate sleep, insomnia sufferers typically report impaired mental and physical abilities, diminished memory, reduced alertness, and slow reaction times.¹ Chronic lack of sleep threatens the well-being, productivity, and safety of millions of Americans including teenagers.

Insomnia is not a disease unto itself but a condition associated with a number of different physical and emotional disorders. The incidence of insomnia is higher among people with chronic illnesses such as hyperthyroidism, kidney trouble, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer's disease. Pregnancy, alcohol intake, stress, and depression are also leading causes of insomnia.

A large prospective study published in the journal Sleep explored the incidence and chronicity of insomnia among adolescents. Researchers collected data from 4,175 boys and girls ranging in age from 11to 17 years. They completed questionnaires and in-person interviews focusing on symptoms of insomnia. One year later for follow-up 3,134 youths were still participating in the study. In the beginning of the study, 27 percent of the participants reported having one or more symptoms of insomnia in the previous 4 weeks. A year later 46 percent reported having one or more symptoms and 35 percent had at least one symptom plus daytime fatigue or sleepiness. Researchers found that 24 percent of the youths had symptoms of chronic insomnia. They stated "Clearly, insomnia is not only a major public health problem but also a major chronic disease affecting a substantial proportion of the adolescent population." ²

¹ Leger D, Stal V, Guilleminault C, Raffray T, Dib M, Paillard M. Diurnal consequence of insomnia: impact on quality of life. Rev Neurol (Paris). Oct2001;157(10):1270-8.

² Roberts RE, Roberts CR, Chan W. Persistence and Change in Symptoms of Insomnia among Adolescents. Sleep. Feb2008;31(2):177-84.