Health
Study explores sleep issues
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Jan. 12, 2009
New research highlights the importance of diagnosing and treating sleep problems. Left untreated, these problems potentially can develop into long-term and serious health issues.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers found that 16% of people living in Georgia experienced persistent problems staying awake during the day. But only 10% of these study participants reported having been diagnosed with a sleep disorder. The findings were published online Dec. 9, 2008, by the American Journal of Epidemiology.
Findings indicated that 35% of Georgians wake up in the morning feeling unrefreshed, 33% snore, 31% do not sleep all night, and 25% have problems falling asleep.
"Our findings highlight the need to educate the public about the symptoms of sleep disorders and to prompt them to seek appropriate care," said study author Michael Decker, PhD, senior scientist in the CDC's Chronic Viral Diseases Branch. "We must also educate health care providers to recognize symptoms of sleep disorders when they are reported, and to act upon them."
The CDC study included state residents from both urban and rural areas. Investigators say there is a probability the findings can be generalized to the rest of the U.S., although further study would be needed.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/01/12/hlbf0112.htm.
