Twelve million Italians sleep badly. Here are the health effects and remedies

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Sleeping at least 7-8 hours a night is essential for the psycho-physical health of every individual. An almost unachievable dream, that of healthy rest, for over 13 million Italians. One person in seven, in fact, suffers from this chronic problem, a real pathology, while one in 5 has had to deal with difficulty falling asleep at least once, albeit for a short period usually linked to particular moments. of life (a bereavement, a separation, the loss of a job, etc.).

World day and the risks of insomnia

On the occasion of World Sleep Day (World Sleep Day), which is celebrated on March 15th, promoted by the World Sleep Society and, in Italy, byItalian Academy of Sleep Medicine (Aims), experts focus attention on these disorders, which are often underestimated and which in many cases are treated “do-it-yourself”. Insomnia, from the Latin insomnia, meaning lack of dreams, is characterized by difficulty falling asleep or frequent awakenings during the night, phenomena that affect both the quantity and quality of sleep. But not only. Those who suffer from it also report a feeling of lack of energy recovery and fatigue, as well as a lack of concentration. All consequences that can have repercussions on everyday life, work and social relationships. «Insomnia represents a problem of great importance from an epidemiological and social point of view, as it affects 10-13% of the population, if It is considered to be chronic insomnia disorder. This percentage is destined to increase if we include the population who may have suffered from the other type of insomnia, the acute one, lasting up to about three months, reaching 40-45%”, explains the professor Luigi De Gennarosecretary of AIMS, a scientific society engaged in research, dissemination and clinical training in this field for more than thirty years.

How sleep physiology works

Given that we spend a third of our lives sleeping, this might appear to be an evolutionary error, but in reality sleep is a physiological necessity, indispensable for survival, a phase of an active process that involves the interaction of multiple components of the central and autonomic nervous system. «Science has not yet revealed all the mysteries of sleep – adds Professor De Gennaro -. We know that while you sleep, your body and brain regenerate. Sleep acts on memory, on the control of the body’s immune responses, on hormonal, metabolic and cardiovascular regulation. In pediatric age it has an important role in neuro-cognitive development and growth. The alteration of sleep-wake rhythms, therefore, should not be underestimated, but must be addressed with the help of the family doctor and, in more complex cases, with the support of specialists from Sleep Medicine Centres”.

Which categories are most at risk

The elderly population is more at risk of developing insomnia due to the physiological changes that occur with the aging process. As well as the female sex. «Compared to men, women are more subject to the development of chronic insomnia – adds the professor. The motivation for this greater predisposition is linked to biological, mainly hormonal, and social factors, not yet identified in detail, but perhaps correlated to the family responsibilities of women in our society and the difficulties of reconciling life and work”. Teenagers can also develop sleep problems, especially when they use smartphones and tablets late into the evening. These devices emit the so-called “blue light”, capable of interfering with the mechanisms of production of melatonin, the sleep hormone.

The health effects

Regardless of chronotype, the sleep-wake cycle should be kept in balance. Whether you are a lark, that is, people with a tendency to get up early in the morning and go to bed early at night, or an owl, with a preference for waking up and going to bed late, it is best not to neglect insomnia. The same goes for those who work shifts or carry out jobs that require a high level of attention such as, for example, driving a heavy vehicle. As the hours of sleep decrease, attention deficits increase proportionally. Added to these are fatigue, irritability, drowsiness, behavioral problems and distress. “Insomnia – warns the professor – should not be underestimated, also because it can significantly affect cardiovascular health, as, among other things, it increases the risk of hypertension. It can also promote the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus, asthma, allergic rhinitis, weight gain and obesity and thyroid problems. There is also a correlation between sleep disorders and mental health. Research is highlighting that the same genes are at the basis of anxiety, depression and insomnia.”