Annual costs of insomnia run into millions
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In recent years, serious sleep disorders have been increasing in Finland.
In 2007, the treatment of insomnia was estimated to cost more than EUR 20 million in specialist care. The figure is equal to the costs resulting from asthma specialty care.
According to a survey on the financial effects of insomnia, the indirect expenses associated with the treatment of serious sleep disorders are estimated to be many times higher. Such indirect costs include for example lower working capacity and sickness absenteeism.
Specialist in insomnia Markku Partinen says that by sleeping well the risk of falling ill can be reduced as efficiently as with a healthy diet and sufficient physical exercise.
Good quality and adequate amounts of sleep can prevent for example depression, becoming overweight, diabetes, as well as cardiovascular diseases.
According to Professor Sirkka-Liisa Kivelä, the traditional medicines used to treat sleeping disorders tend to alter the quality of sleep to such an extent that the sleep-deprived person is unable to get natural and invigorating sleep.
In Prof. Kivelä’s view, the use of benzodiazepines for insomnia is much too extensive in Finland, while they are also used for too long.
They make the insomniac dopey and may lead to the risk of dependence.
Sirkka-Liisa Kivelä suggests that instead of benzodiazepines some other non-addictive medication should be used for the treatment of insomnia.
For example, melatonin is a hormone naturally found in humans.
It is not known to create addiction nor the drowsiness associated with the traditional drugs.
However, melatonin has been studied for a couple of years, and it has been found to be effective only for some insomniacs in treating their sleep disorder.
In 2007, the treatment of insomnia was estimated to cost more than EUR 20 million in specialist care. The figure is equal to the costs resulting from asthma specialty care.
According to a survey on the financial effects of insomnia, the indirect expenses associated with the treatment of serious sleep disorders are estimated to be many times higher. Such indirect costs include for example lower working capacity and sickness absenteeism.
Specialist in insomnia Markku Partinen says that by sleeping well the risk of falling ill can be reduced as efficiently as with a healthy diet and sufficient physical exercise.
Good quality and adequate amounts of sleep can prevent for example depression, becoming overweight, diabetes, as well as cardiovascular diseases.
According to Professor Sirkka-Liisa Kivelä, the traditional medicines used to treat sleeping disorders tend to alter the quality of sleep to such an extent that the sleep-deprived person is unable to get natural and invigorating sleep.
In Prof. Kivelä’s view, the use of benzodiazepines for insomnia is much too extensive in Finland, while they are also used for too long.
They make the insomniac dopey and may lead to the risk of dependence.
Sirkka-Liisa Kivelä suggests that instead of benzodiazepines some other non-addictive medication should be used for the treatment of insomnia.
For example, melatonin is a hormone naturally found in humans.
It is not known to create addiction nor the drowsiness associated with the traditional drugs.
However, melatonin has been studied for a couple of years, and it has been found to be effective only for some insomniacs in treating their sleep disorder.
Helsingin Sanomat