More Koreans suffer from sleeping disorders
Noh Sang-mi, 38, a mother of three- and five-year-old daughters, can’t sleep well at night since she gave birth. The two daughters sleep with her and they frequently wake her up by kicking the sheets or when they need to go to the toilet.
“I can’t even remember when I had peaceful sleep for at least four straight hours. Of course I feel tired during the day due to the lack of sleep, and it is definitely impacting my health. It is even hard to fall asleep nowadays.”
Noh said she frequently has an upset stomach and has lost weight while suffering from sleep deprivation.
According to statistics from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), the number of people suffering from sleeping disorders has been growing steadily over the past five years with the annual average growth of 8.1 percent.
Some 568,070 visited medical clinics to seek treatment in 2018, up from 415,500 in 2014. Among them, 28 percent, or about 156,800, were in their 70s.
Men had 1.4 times higher chance to have a sleeping disorder than women in 2018, showing that the gap between genders has narrowed from the 1.5 times in 2014. Also, men in their 20s and 30s are now showing increasing rates.
Types of sleep disorder
A sleeping disorder is a condition where a person cannot get enough sleep, or even when getting enough, it is hard to stay awake during the day. It involves problems with the quality, timing and amount of sleep, and causes distress and problems in functioning during daytime.
There are several of types of sleeping disorders. Insomnia is the most common, while others include narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome.
Insomnia is when people have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep throughout the night. People with sleep apnea experience abnormal patterns in breathing while asleep — and there are several types of this disorder. Restless leg syndrome is a type of sleep movement problem, which causes an uncomfortable sensation and an urge to move the legs while trying to fall asleep. Narcolepsy is a condition of extreme sleepiness during the day with people often falling asleep suddenly regardless of the situation.
Sleep problems can be caused by various factors. Short-term or acute insomnia can be caused by stress such as from a job loss or change, a death of family member or loved one, illness and environmental factors such as light, noise or extreme temperatures.
Experts say insomnia is closely related to anxiety.
“High stress level among people in their 20s and 30s and the rising ratio of depression among men in their 20s are the main causes of the increasing rates of sleep disorders among men in their 20s and 30s,” said Park Sun-young, a professor at the psychiatry department of the NHIS Ilsan Hospital.
Long-term or chronic insomnia, which occurs at least three nights a week for a month or longer, can be caused by factors such as depression, chronic stress and pain or discomfort at night.
Treatment
Treatments for sleeping disorders can vary depending on the type and underlying causes, but they generally include a combination of medical treatment and lifestyle changes.
Doctors occasionally prescribe a sleeping pill of benzodiazepine for short-term anxiety relief, or a small dose of an antidepressant or antihistamine to treat insomnia. Melatonin supplements can be also helpful, and breathing devices or surgery is usually used for sleep apnea.
Without medication, lifestyle and behavior adjustments can improve the quality of sleep as well, Park said. These include relaxation or cognitive therapy.
“Sleep hygiene changes include eliminating nicotine, alcohol or caffeine use. The concept of sleep hygiene refers to practices, habits and environmental factors that are important for getting sound sleep,” according to Park.
The circadian rhythm, or 24-hour cycle, and aging are factors affecting sleep.
Circadian rhythms influence when, how much, and how well people sleep. These rhythms might be altered by the timing of various factors, including naps, bedtime, exercise and especially exposure to light.
Park said aging also plays a role in sleep and sleep hygiene.
“Sleep patterns change after people reach the age of 40. There are many more nocturnal awakenings as people age. The awakenings affect sleep quality and can interact with any other condition that might cause arousals or awakenings.”
The more people experience waking up at night, the more likely they will awaken in the morning with the feeling of not being rested, Park said.