Globally, sleep disorders affect a significant portion of the population. Research estimates that approximately 62% of adults worldwide report not sleeping well on a regular basis. Which is quite much if you consider people sleeping 33% of their lifetime. Common sleep disorders include insomnia, sleep apnea, and restless legs syndrome, among others. In the U.S., studies show that 50-70 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders, with insomnia being the most prevalent. The impacts of these disorders are wide-ranging, from increased risks of chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes to impaired cognitive and motor functioning. In addition, sleep deprivation is linked to severe health issues, such as obesity, weakened immunity, and mental health disorders like depression and anxiety. Many of these sleep problems are exacerbated by stress, environmental factors, and lifestyle habits.
Insomnia:
The most common sleep disorder, characterized by difficulty falling or staying asleep. It can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term) and is often linked to stress, anxiety, or poor sleep habits. Around 30-35% of adults experience brief symptoms of insomnia, while 10-15% suffer from chronic insomnia, making it one of the most common sleep disorders
Sleep Apnea:
A serious condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common type and occurs when the throat muscles relax excessively, blocking airflow. Sleep apnea affects about 5-10% of the global population. In the U.S. alone, it is estimated that around 22 million people suffer from sleep apnea, with many cases going undiagnosed.
Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS):
A neurological disorder that creates an irresistible urge to move the legs, often leading to disrupted sleep. Approximately 7-10% of people are affected by RLS, with the condition becoming more common with age.
A condition that causes excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden "sleep attacks," where the person may fall asleep unexpectedly at any time. Though less common, narcolepsy affects an estimated 1 in 2,000 people worldwide, which amounts to about 3 million people.
These affect the body’s internal clock, leading to problems with the timing of sleep, such as in Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (DSPS), where a person’s sleep-wake cycle is significantly delayed. Disorders like Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome affect around 1-3% of the population, particularly in adolescents and young adults.
This group includes abnormal behaviors during sleep, such as sleepwalking, night terrors, and REM sleep behavior disorder, where individuals may physically act out their dreams. While data for parasomnias (like sleepwalking or night terrors) vary, these disorders can affect around 4-6% of adults, with higher rates in children.