How prevalent are sleep disorders?
More than 100 million Americans have a hard time sleeping. It’s estimated that 18 million of them have sleep apnea, however, only 3 million have been diagnosed. The danger in not seeking diagnosis and treatment can be seen in the number of annual deaths: approximately 38,000 people die annually from complications caused by sleep apnea.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes, it is estimated that 40 million Americans are diagnosed with a chronic long-term sleep disorder each year, and 20 million Americans have occasional sleep problems (About Sleep Disorders, 2008).. What are sleep disorders? Sleep disorders are neurological conditions that can affect sleep in a variety of ways. The International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD) lists over 84 different types of sleep disorders that affect the body’s normal cycle of daytime wakefulness and night time sleep (About Sleep Disorders, 2008). Sleep disorders are often categorized into four types: (1) Primary Sleep Disorders, (2) Sleep Disorders Related to Another Mental Disorder, (3) Sleep Disorders Due to a General Medical Condition, and (4) Substance-Induced Sleep Disorders (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). Examples of Primary Sleep Disorders are: Primary Insomnia: The common complaint of primary insomnia is difficulty fal
