Insomnia Costs America $63 Billion A Year: Study

A new study finds that nearly a quarter of American workers experience some form of insomnia, and the disorder is costing the country billions of dollars in lost productivity.

Health.com notes that the study, conducted by researchers at Harvard Medical School, surveyed 7,428 employed workers across the country. They discovered that 23 percent had insomnia-related problems, including difficulty falling asleep or nighttime waking, at least three times a week during the previous month.

The study also found that insomniacs were so tired during work that they cost their employers about eight days of work per year. That translates to about $2,280 per person.

If you expand those results to the entire country, the study found that insomnia costs the U.S. economy about $63 billion annually.

Given these results, the study's researchers say employers may want to implement screening policies for insomnia, similar to the ones already in place for other medical conditions, according to All Headlines.

"Now that we know how much insomnia costs the American workplace, the question for employers is whether the price of intervention is worthwhile," study author Dr. Ronald C. Kessler told CBS. "Can U.S. employers afford not to address insomnia in the workplace?"

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Comments

[Capt Kirk]

11:10 AM on 09/04/2011

The suggestions on the video are good, but they aren't effective for a lot of people. From experience I can recommend any herbal sleep product containing Phenibut, or just Phenibut by itself, 500mg up to 1000mg. Check your local healthfood store / vitamin shop, or go online to order. Phenibut produces deep sleep and leaves you feeling great the next day, and won't cause hallucinations, psychosis, sleep eating or any of the other weird side-effects you can get from pharma sleep aids. You can't take it every night, but for intermittent sleeplessness, it's the deal.

[Miss Cathy67]

11:52 AM on 09/03/2011

I find a good hefty shot of George Dickle and a pastromy sandwich does the trick

[JAVA VB]

07:53 AM on 09/03/2011

the bed is a bundle of paradoxes; we go to it with reluctance, yet we quit it with regret; we make up our minds every night to leave it early, but we make up our bodies every morning to keep it late.

[OPa Infinity]

07:12 AM on 09/03/2011

No wonder so many people are sleepy, "The survey and new study were funded, respectively, by Sanofi-Aventis (the maker of Ambien) and Merck, which is developing a new insomnia drug currently in the final phase of clinical trials." (According to Health.com). Could there be a connection? Hmmm....

[2tru4u2c]

05:11 AM on 09/03/2011

Cheeky!! LOL

[2tru4u2c]

04:45 AM on 09/03/2011

On a lighter note, I would chance a guess that many posters right now are suffering from insomnia as it is 4:44am EDT. ;)

[2tru4u2c]

04:43 AM on 09/03/2011

When they suggest 'screening' for insomnia, does that put the disorder in the same category as drug use? Will the prescription drugs I use to combat insomnia also make me ineligible for hire? As someone that has suffered from insomnia for years, I have a problem with what is being suggested here. Some suggest insomnia is merely a symptom of a number of ailments (depression, anxiety, etc). I disagree. I also think that if an employer were to disqualify someone for suffering from insomnia, that they would have a compliance problem as it relates to the Americans With Disabilities Act. IMHO

[hmt1974]

01:53 AM on 09/03/2011

Now the government thinks we all need to be on a set bedtime. Employers are gonna screen for insomnia meaning some of us who are productive under whatever circumstances will not be eligible for a job because we don't sleep well. When I was a kid I couldn't wait to grow up so I could make my own rules, now that I am a grown up I can only hope that the government doesn't impose making me eat my veggies with dinner, or grounding me from my tv because I said a dirty word. I'm going to eat some cake and ice cream..........and I haven't even eaten dinner yet........take that!!!

[OPa Infinity]

07:13 AM on 09/03/2011

The government didn't fund it. "The survey and new study were funded, respectively, by Sanofi-Aventis (the maker of Ambien) and Merck, which is developing a new insomnia drug currently in the final phase of clinical trials." (Health.com)

[hmt1974]

03:06 PM on 09/03/2011

My mistake. I had read so many articles over a couple of hours and was so fed up with all the new laws and regulations on so many different things that I suppose I assumed that it was going to turn into some govornment funded way to keep us in line and living the way someone else believes is right. I usually never jump to conclusions without double checking however, in this instance I did.......

[destin023]

12:15 AM on 09/03/2011

um, I don't believe the dollar translation of this study for one second. Over 20 million people unemployed, work forces trimmed to the bone & productivity/profits are fine. We don't need more capacity, we need purchasing power of which I would then believe these figures if supply was down. If there's that much lost time on the job it's made up in one capacity or another called OT or stay after hrs. to assume your workload..

[wakawaka09]

11:14 PM on 09/02/2011

I've had insomnia for decades. I'm up several times a night for hours at a time. I have emphysema and sleep apnea as well. I'm so tired I can't see straight. I suck it up. I have over a month of sick leave and close to a month of vacation time on the books. Guess I'll rest when I'm dead which at this rate is right around the corner.

[litman914]

10:22 PM on 09/02/2011

I loose sleep thinking about the waste in government, two illegal wars, Rick Perry, and both houses of congress

[willowowl22]

11:21 PM on 09/02/2011

That would mean that you might not be considered for a job. That means the whole country is in bigger trouble. Because I think we all feel the sames way about what's going on.

[2tru4u2c]

04:49 AM on 09/03/2011

Way to take a serious topic and sully it with silly, lackluster, uninformed, unkind blather. Thanks a lot!

[spinotter11]

09:20 AM on 09/03/2011

It is not a serious topic - it is the beginning of a new barrage of advertisements for a new drug for insomnia.

[metusmetu]

08:53 PM on 09/02/2011

Here's a CONDITION for you!: Government Corruption, Government Waste, Government Fraud, Illegal Wars, Illegal Aliens, and I could go on! How many BILLIONS AND TRILLIONS is that COSTING US??! G-I-V-E M-E A B-R-E-A-K!!!

[willowowl22]

11:22 PM on 09/02/2011

Now there's one that will keep anyone awake 24/7

[michael medeiros]

08:45 PM on 09/02/2011

When it comes to health and fitness, sleep, is often overlooked. The importance of getting a good night;s sleep is crucial to maintaining a healthy life.

Can’t Fall Asleep? Tips To Help If You Can’t Sleep
http://exerciseandnutritiontips.com/cant-fall-asleep-tips-to-help-if-you-cant-sleep

[jacmed]

06:29 PM on 09/02/2011

Spending $63 billion to study insomnia? I don't know whether to laugh or cry, but I sure don't intend to lose any sleep over it!

[2tru4u2c]

04:51 AM on 09/03/2011

Nobody spent $63b studying insomnia. The article suggests that it costs employers approximately that much anually in lost production. Cute post, anyway.

[Scruffyboo2]

06:28 PM on 09/02/2011

"Can U.S. employers afford not to address insomnia in the workplace?" ... why not? They fail to address others issues ... they figure the employee should deal with them. Their interest in their employees goes no further than the bottom line.

[spinotter11]

09:22 AM on 09/03/2011

Pharma speak for "Can we make more money by convincing everyone to buy our new drugs?"