Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

Insomnia - Enough to Give You Nightmares

Insomnia – It is Enough to Give You Nightmares

With the tragic and untimely death of Hollywood star Heath Ledger being linked to sleeping pills and other celebrities such as Britney Spears and Jack Nicholson being quoted about their difficulties sleeping, insomnia and the awful effect it has on your mental, emotional and physical wellbeing is a hot health topic.

If you are writing about insomnia then Crampex, the night cramp treatment specialist, has:

-Statistics on the state of the nation’s sleeping habits
-Expert comment from sleep specialist Doctor Chris Idzikowski at the Edinburgh Sleep Centre on insomnia – its causes and effects
-Expert tips on how to get good quality sleep back in your life without the need for sleeping pills

Latest consumer research of 4,000 from Crampex has found that:

State of the Nation - Sleep Quality and Quantity

- 3 out of 4 people wake EVERY morning still exhausted
- 46% typically get six hours sleep a night or less, whilst 18% get under 5 hours rest
- Just 1 in 5 people are getting the recommended 8 hours sleep a night

Implications

* 1 in 4 people have to take time off work because they just feel too tired
* 1 in 5 have an alcoholic drink to help them get off, whilst one in ten regularly resort to medication to help them get to sleep
* 1 in 20 people have ended a relationship because of their partner’s sleeping habits

Factors disturbing sleep

* 66% admitted they were regularly kept awake by stress and worry, with money the most common source of anxiety, followed by work and family issues
* Eight in ten people have suffered from muscle cramp at night
* 1 in 5 people have disturbed sleep every night because of their partner

Relying on poor quality sleep will have the same negative impact on your mind, body and wellbeing as low grade depression:
"It seems we are heading for an exhaustion meltdown as a nation. It is vital everyone makes time to get plenty of good quality sleep. A good night's sleep not only keeps you feeling alert and refreshed, but it can also help weight loss, reduce depression and keep you feeling at your best." Doctor Chris Idzikowski

How to Beat Insomnia

If you are having sleep problems, whether you aren't able to fall asleep, wake up too often, do not feel well-rested when you wake up in the morning, or simply want to improve the quality and quantity of your sleep then try the following top 5 tips put together by sleep expert Doctor Chris Idzikowski:

Keep to a routine each night that allows you time to relax – having a warm bath for half an hour or reading a book before bedtime will help you relax.

Take action to prevent factors that can regularly disturb sleep - if you are being woken in the night by a snoring partner or nocturnal muscle cramps then take action.

Keep a pen and paper beside your bed – this will allow you to write down your worries and anxieties so you don’t have to lie awake all night worrying about them.

If your bed partner stops you sleeping, consider separate beds/bedrooms - far from it being the end of intimacy, it could be the start. After a good night’s sleep – without your partner’s snoring or fidgeting - you'll be more refreshed and in a better mood.

Use the 20 minute rule – if you are awake in bed for more than 20 minutes, you should get up and rest somewhere. You should not return to bed until you feel sleepy.

GOOD SLEEP ADVICE

For further tips or to complete the 1st ever interactive sleep personality quiz to identify how good your sleep is then visit www.goodsleepadvice.com.

Please contact Madeleine Gregory or Sarah Sharp at Pegasus PR for further information, full statistics or to set up an expert interview: 01903 821550 health@pegasuspr.co.uk