Sleeping pills don’t work for 40 percent poppers
September 10th, 2012 - 5:40 pm ICT by IANSLondon, Sep 10 (IANS) Sleeping pills seldom worked for 40 percent of the poppers who suffer from insomnia, says a survey of 20,000 people, according to a British study.
Some 42 percent of the patients currently on medication have been sleeping badly for over 11 years or more. A further 22 percent had insomnia lasting two to five years, while one in six had suffered between six and 10 years, the survey revealed.
Experts said the study suggested that sleeping pills were not combating long-term sleep problems and that cognitive behavioural therapy has been proven to be more effective.
Around 10 million National Heath Service (MHS) prescriptions for sleeping pills are issued each year. But NHS guidelines say they should be for short-term use only - usually for two weeks and up to a maximum of four weeks at a time, the Daily Mail reports.
Findings from The Great British Sleep Survey of more than 20,000 adults in Britain found we are a nation of poor sleepers. The average score of sleep quality was only five out of 10. Long-term poor sleepers were twice as likely to have relationship problems, suffer from daytime fatigue and lack of concentration.
The survey also showed almost one in 10 with insomnia were on sleeping pills prescribed by their doctor, with one in five using over the counter remedies. American research this year found sleeping pills may significantly increase the risk of premature death.
The latest survey was sponsored by Sleepio, an online sleep improvement programme which uses cognitive behavioural techniques. Andrew McCulloch, chief executive of the Mental Health Foundation, has campaigned for the NHS to highlight the importance of sleep.
- Poor sleep affects 1 in 3 Brits - Jan 27, 2011
- Majority have trouble falling asleep - Nov 14, 2011
- Lack of good night's sleep a major health concern - Jan 27, 2011
- Taking medication for insomnia or anxiety 'ups mortality risk by 36pc' - Sep 10, 2010
- Britain spent 50 million pounds on sleeping pills - May 11, 2012
- Insomniacs prime candidates for hypertension: Study - Jun 07, 2012
- Sleeping pills harmful in long run - Aug 10, 2012
- Poor sleep linked to worse health outcomes in diabetics - May 03, 2011
- Thomas McCulloch gets a new job to axe down trees - Sep 23, 2011
- Too much or too little sleep may accelerate cognitive aging by 4 to 7 years - May 02, 2011
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