The prevalence of insomnia cases has sharply risen in recent years, attributed to individuals using their phones in bed. According to NHS data, hospital appointments for patients diagnosed with insomnia have nearly doubled over the past four years. This increase is primarily linked to high-stress lifestyles and the pervasive “always-on” culture, leading people to check their phones throughout the night.
In the last year, hospital records indicate 33,138 instances where patients were identified as suffering from insomnia, averaging close to 100 cases daily. This marks a significant escalation from the previous year’s 26,944 cases and more than double the numbers from four years ago, which stood at 15,215.
Experts, like Zaheen Ahmed from the UKAT Group, have observed a phenomenon known as the ‘Apple Glow,’ where phone usage at night has led to addiction to sleeping tablets. The constant need to engage with phones disrupts daily routines and sleep patterns, impacting individuals’ overall well-being.
Encouraging individuals to assess their phone usage as a potential factor contributing to their insomnia, Ahmed highlights the importance of addressing this issue, particularly as we enter the New Year.
Moreover, the rise in sleep-related issues is also evident among workers in industries requiring variable shifts in a 24-hour operational environment. These shifts are believed to be a significant factor driving the surge in individuals seeking help for their sleep disturbances.
While the NHS data on insomnia cases pertains to patients treated in hospitals for various ailments but documented with insomnia, many of these appointments are associated with underlying conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, asthma, or stroke, which are known to heighten the risk for individuals with insomnia.
Furthermore, the statistics from NHS Digital reveal that over a million people in England were prescribed sleeping tablets last year, costing the health service £81 million. Zopiclone emerged as the most commonly prescribed sleeping aid, followed by melatonin and temazepam.
Stephanie Romiszewski, the author of ‘Think Less, Sleep More,’ emphasizes the misconception surrounding insomnia as merely a lack of sleep. She points out that true insomnia is a learned pattern of hyper-arousal, where individuals develop anxiety about not sleeping, leading to counterproductive behaviors that exacerbate the problem.
Romiszewski highlights the importance of rebuilding consistency in sleep patterns rather than resorting to drastic measures, advocating for a structured wake-up time and exposure to morning light. By reframing the association between the bed and sleep, individuals can break the cycle of conditioned insomnia responses and achieve genuine improvement in their sleep quality.