More and more people in Hesse are suffering from sleep disorders. © Christin Klose/dpa-tmn
The number of people with sleep disorders in Hesse is increasing. According to an analysis by BARMER, the diagnosis rate has increased by 39 percent in recent years. Sleep disorders can have serious health consequences.
Fulda/Frankfurt – A restful night after which you can start the day fit and well rested? For more and more people, this is just a wishful thinking. The number of people diagnosed with a sleep disorder has been increasing in Hesse for years. This is based on a current analysis by the health insurance company BARMER out.
For example, sleep disorders increase the risk of dementia
Accordingly, the proportion of the Hessian population with a corresponding diagnosis rose from 5.1 to 7.1 percent between 2012 and 2023. This corresponds to around 457,000 cases in 2023 and an increase in the diagnosis rate of 39 percent in the period mentioned.
Sleep disorders can have serious consequences for your own health. According to the announcement, they increase the risk of obesity, stroke, dementia and cardiovascular disease. Problems falling asleep or staying asleep can be triggered by professional and private stress or, in women, menopause.
Video: Eight tips for a good night’s sleep
Sleep disorders could BARMER According to this, these can also be the first signs of depression. “Anyone who sleeps so badly at least three times a week over a period of more than three months that their quality of life, performance and psychological well-being are noticeably impaired should definitely have this insomnia checked out at the doctor’s office,” says Martin Till, regional head of the BARMER in Hesse.
Significant increases in sleep disorders among young adults
The analysis shows that in all age groups examined from the age of 20 onwards, significant increases in the diagnosis of sleep disorders can be observed. In 2012, for example, doctors diagnosed two percent of Hessians between the ages of 20 and 29 with a sleep disorder. In 2023, the diagnosis rate was almost three percent. So it rose by around 50 percent in this group.
“Sleepless nights are no trivial matter. Sleeping less than five hours per night increases the risk of chronic diseases and impairs performance,” says Till. Researchers from Canada recently discovered that disturbances in sleep patterns, for example, can indicate the disease years before a dementia diagnosis.
The health insurance company technician lists the typical signs of a sleep disorder: People with sleep disorders often take a long time to fall asleep. They often sleep restlessly and wake up often. Repeated nightmares or being startled awake from sleep can also be symptoms of a sleep disorder. Other possible signs: Waking up frequently at night, waking up too early without being able to fall asleep again, exhaustion and tiredness during the day despite sleeping for a sufficient amount of time, increasing irritability and difficulty concentrating during the day.
Time change as an additional burden on sleep
The time change could be another factor that has, at least temporarily, a negative impact on sleep, they said BARMER. Turning the clock back by an hour further disrupts an already disturbed sleep rhythm.
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This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. It in no way replaces a visit to the doctor. Our editorial team is not allowed to answer individual questions about medical conditions.
