Three hundred eleven, three hundred twelve, three hundred thirteen… Counting sheep is supposed to help when sleep just won’t come. And apparently more and more people are having to resort to this or other aids: According to current figures from Barmer, sleep disorders have increased massively in Germany in recent years. While in 2013 only 5.52 percent of those insured by the health insurance company were treated with the corresponding diagnosis, the proportion rose to 7.31 percent within ten years – an increase of 32 percent. Extrapolated to the total population, 6.2 million people now have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, compared to 4.5 million ten years ago.
Increase in MV is above the national average
According to health insurance figures, sleep disorders are not a question of a certain age: they have increased in all age groups from 20 years onwards, in MV most strongly in the group of 30 to 39 year olds, in which an increase in the number of corresponding diagnoses has increased by almost within a decade 50 percent was recorded. The largest proportion of people who sleep poorly are in the 60+ age group: in 2023, twelve percent of people over 60 in the northeast struggled with sleep disorders.
Serious health consequences are possible in the long term
This not only means that those affected start the new day with less energy. “In the long term, sleepless nights can increase the risk of psychological problems, cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders. Healthy sleep hygiene, stress management and, if necessary, medical help are therefore crucial in order to sleep as well and peacefully as possible,” explains Dr. Ursula Marshal.
Time changes cause problems
How to sleep better (again).
The DAK advises people who sleep poorly to keep a sleep diary. A template can be found on the website, for example www.dak.de/schlafwhich also contains useful information about healthy sleep.
