The prevalence of insomnia has seen a significant increase in recent years, with many attributing the rise to individuals using their smartphones in bed. According to data from the NHS, hospital visits for patients diagnosed with insomnia have nearly doubled over the past four years. This spike is largely linked to high-stress lifestyles and the pervasive “always-on” culture, leading individuals to constantly check their phones even during the night.
In the previous year, there were 33,138 instances where hospital doctors identified patients as suffering from insomnia, averaging close to 100 cases daily. This figure marks a notable escalation from 26,944 cases in the preceding year and is approximately double the number from four years ago, which stood at 15,215.
Zaheen Ahmed, Head of Treatment at the UKAT Group specializing in addiction treatment, highlighted the phenomenon known as the ‘Apple Glow,’ citing cases of individuals developing sleeping tablet addiction due to late-night phone usage. He emphasized the disruptive impact of phone dependency on daily routines and sleep patterns.
Encouraging a reflection on phone usage habits, Ahmed suggested seizing the New Year as an opportunity to evaluate the role smartphones play in contributing to insomnia. He emphasized the need to address excessive phone usage as a potential solution to sleep issues.
The surge in individuals seeking assistance for sleep problems is also linked to occupations involving variable shifts in a 24-hour economy. NHS Digital’s data on insomnia patients pertains to those receiving hospital treatment for various conditions but documented as suffering from insomnia by medical professionals.
While many appointments may be for ailments such as high blood pressure, heart disease, asthma, or stroke – which are associated with heightened insomnia risks – experts caution that hospital statistics only capture severe cases requiring urgent medical intervention.
Notably, more than a million people in England were prescribed sleeping medications last year, costing the healthcare system £81 million. Zopiclone emerged as the most prescribed sleep aid, followed by melatonin and temazepam among the eight million sleeping tablet prescriptions issued in the same period.
Stephanie Romiszewski, author of ‘Think Less, Sleep More,’ highlighted misconceptions surrounding insomnia, stressing that it is not merely a matter of sleep deprivation but a learned pattern of hyper-arousal. She emphasized the counterproductive nature of common sleep practices like lie-ins and constant clock-checking, which can exacerbate sleep difficulties.
Romiszewski underscored the importance of consistency in sleep routines, recommending practices such as maintaining a regular wake-up time, exposure to morning light, and associating the bed with sleep rather than wakefulness. By reframing the approach to insomnia as a conditioned response, individuals can foster genuine improvements in their sleep patterns.