Sleepless in the Southwest
10.10.2022 09:50
Around 11 million people live in Baden-Württemberg, and almost one in two (42 percent) of them cannot fall asleep at least occasionally in the evening. This is the result of a representative Forsa survey commissioned by AOK Baden-Württemberg. Women have sleep problems more often (50 percent) than men (34 percent). Around a third of those surveyed even rated their general sleep quality as rather poor (27 %) or very poor (2 percent). With a campaign (www.aok.de/bw/gesunderschlaf) the AOK Baden-Württemberg draws attention to the health importance of restful sleep.
In the Forsa survey, two-thirds (67 percent) of people in Baden-Württemberg stated that they woke up several times at night at least occasionally. For 38 percent, it happens at least now and then that they wake up at night and then find it difficult to fall asleep again. According to current data from the AOK Baden-Württemberg, a total of 229,397 people insured with the Südwestkasse were being treated for sleep disorders in 2021. Treatment prevalence increased by 4.7 percent annually from 2017 to 2021. “Having trouble sleeping means not being able to get restful sleep and therefore feeling tired and exhausted during the day. This can be because it takes a long time to fall asleep, sleeps restlessly at night and wakes up often, wakes up at night and lies awake for a long time, or wakes up much too early in the morning and cannot go back to sleep," says Dr. Alexandra Isaksson, specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy at AOK Baden-Württemberg.
The results of the Forsa survey also show the impact that sleep problems have on the everyday life of those affected in the southwest: 59 percent of those affected by problems falling asleep or staying asleep are exhausted and less productive when they occur and around a third (35 percent) are in this condition Fall unfocused during the day. 31 percent of Baden-Württemberg residents report increased irritability and impatience with problems falling asleep and staying asleep. Around one in five (21 percent) of those affected feels mentally bad or has depressive moods when sleep problems occur or complains of headaches (19 percent). “Those affected usually have a lot of worries about sleep disorders and feel impaired in everyday life. A conversation with a doctor can clarify whether there is a medical reason for this and what treatment options are conceivable," advises Dr. Isakson.
External influences sometimes also cause sleepless nights in the southwest. Just over a third (36 percent) have had the feeling that global events, such as: B. the corona pandemic or the war in Ukraine affect their sleep quality. Most respondents report that the war in Ukraine has had an impact on their own sleep quality: 73 percent of those who believe their sleep quality has been affected by global events name the Ukraine war, followed by the corona pandemic at 70 percent. Significantly fewer respondents state that economic, financial or energy crises (41 percent) and natural disasters as a result of global warming or climate change (38 percent) affected their sleep quality. It is relatively rare to say that the Taiwan conflict (7 percent) or another global event (5 percent) had an impact on their sleep quality in the past. “Lack of sleep not only affects the quality of life. It can also be risky because it makes accidents more likely, for example. Furthermore, chronic sleep disorders increase the long-term risk of heart attacks and high blood pressure as well as the later occurrence of depressive episodes. For people who regularly have poor sleep, it is important to get to the bottom of the causes,” says Dr. Isakson.
With a current campaign (www.aok.de/bw/gesunder Schlaf) the AOK Baden-Württemberg would like to clarify what promotes or hinders sleep and when sleep disorders need treatment. On the one hand, it is about sleeping needs as individually as possible and, on the other hand, about a positive perspective on the topic of sleep. “AOK policyholders and other people in the southwest should know that AOK Baden-Württemberg is a competent contact for good sleep, provides guidance on this topic and provides professional proximity,” says Kristina Kober, prevention expert at AOK Baden-Württemberg.