The prevalence of insomnia has seen a significant increase in recent times, attributed in part to individuals using their smartphones in bed. According to data from the NHS, hospital appointments for patients diagnosed with insomnia have nearly doubled over the past four years. This rise is largely linked to high-stress lifestyles and the pervasive “always-on” culture, where people engage with their phones throughout the night.
In the previous year, there were 33,138 instances where hospital doctors identified patients as suffering from insomnia, averaging close to 100 cases daily. This marks a substantial increase compared to the 26,944 cases in the preceding year and is approximately double the figure from four years ago, which stood at 15,215.
Commenting on this trend, Zaheen Ahmed, the Head of Treatment at the UKAT Group, highlighted the detrimental impact of excessive phone use on sleep patterns. Ahmed noted that phone dependency, often referred to as the “Apple Glow,” could lead to sleeping tablet addiction, disrupting individuals’ daily routines and exacerbating insomnia.
Encouraging individuals to reassess their phone usage habits, particularly in the New Year, Ahmed emphasized the need to recognize the potential link between phone use and insomnia.
The escalation in sleep-related issues is also attributed to workers in sectors requiring variable shifts in a 24-hour economy. The data from NHS Digital pertains to patients treated in hospitals for various ailments but documented as suffering from insomnia by their healthcare providers.
Moreover, a substantial number of hospital visits for insomnia may involve patients with conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, asthma, or strokes, as these health issues are known to heighten the risk of insomnia.
Experts caution that the reported hospital cases represent only a fraction of the overall problem, as they typically involve severe instances requiring urgent medical attention. NHS statistics reveal that over a million people in England received prescriptions for sleeping tablets last year, amounting to a considerable cost of £81 million for the health service.
Among the various sleeping aids prescribed, zopiclone emerged as the most commonly dispensed medication, followed by melatonin and temazepam. Stephanie Romiszewski, the author of ‘Think Less, Sleep More,’ emphasized the misconception surrounding insomnia, highlighting that it is not merely a matter of insufficient sleep but a learned pattern of hyper-arousal.
Romiszewski emphasized the need to establish consistent sleep routines, focus on wake-up times, exposure to morning light, and reinforce the association between bed and sleep to address insomnia effectively. By understanding the underlying causes of sleep disturbances and adopting tailored strategies, individuals can make genuine improvements in their sleep patterns.