Jan 16, 2009 10:04 pm US/Central
Study: More Young Adults Using Sleeping Pills
DENVER (CBS) ―
A new study shows that more Americans than ever are taking sleeping pills, reports CBS station KCNC-TV.
Between 1998 and 2006, use of prescription sleep aids doubled among all adults under the age of 45. But the most alarming finding by researchers with the healthcare business arm of Thomson Reuters is that the number of young adults, between ages 18 and 24, using sleeping pills nearly tripled.
"Insomnia, a condition traditionally associated with older adults, appears to be causing larger numbers of young adults to turn to prescription sleep aids, and to depend on them for longer periods of time," William Marder said in a press release. Marder is the senior vice president and general manager for the healthcare business of Thomson Reuters.
Researchers looked at medical and drug claims and found that not only are more Americans taking sleeping pills but they're using them for an average of 3 months -- that's 40 percent longer than in 1998.
Use among college-age adults jumped from 599 users per 100,000 in 1998 to 1,524 users per 100,000 in 2006.
"The big concern, especially in college kids and young adults, is undiagnosed depression or some other disorder -- even something like a thyroid condition -- that can interfere with sleep. You don't want to miss a medical problem," said CBS4 Medical Editor Dr. Dave Hnida.
Hnida offers these recommendations for people having trouble sleeping:
-- Dim the lights one hour before bed to help your body producer its own melatonin to doze off.
-- A half-hour before bedtime lower the temperature in your home a few degrees to induce drowsiness.
-- Don't watch stressful TV or surf the internet for at least 30 minutes before bedtime.
-- Eat a small snack about 15 minutes before you go to bed that will help divert the blood flow from your brain to your stomach.
-- Consider a sound machine or soft music to help relax your thoughts as you try to fall asleep.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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