Insomnia Costs Heavy To The Exchequer, Says Report

From: Healthaim

Insomnia costs the United States a $100 billion per year. To be precise, it is the untreated insomnia that results in the damages to the exchequer.

Insomnia, according to a study, and the cost incurred on people who remain untreated, could be significantly brought down with the help of behavioral therapies and medication.

It has been found that 1 in 5 adult in the US has problems with sleep, says Emerson Wickwire, who has authored the study. An assistant professor of psychiatry and medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, Wickwire reviewed earlier researches to come at his conclusion that insomnia costs range from $28 billion to $216 billion.

Insomnia largely remains untreated

“People don’t seek care in part because they’re uncomfortable acknowledging it’s a problem, or they don’t realize it’s a problem or that effective treatments are available,” Wickwire said. “And, of course, there’s a gross lack of awareness among health care providers as well,” he added.
According to the researchers sleeplessness has very effective treatments available today. However, many people refuse or do not take a treatment. The reason behind such an attitude could be a lack of awareness, and related health care not being available where desired.
Thus, untreated insomnia results in accidents, not producing effective results at the workplace and other repercussions that need additional health care requirements.
On reviewing results of 10 studies that had analysed how the use of medications and behavior treatments could prove cost effective – they found that it significantly decreased the requirement of healthcare facilities for loss of sleep.

“Payers, such as health insurers, have historically underfunded insomnia treatment, in part because they have not been sure what the payoff is,” Wickwire said.
The report which was published in the journal Sleep Medicine Reviews, could help the policymakers arrive at efficient ways to improve sleep quality among its huge workforce which is losing out due to a manageable issue.

http://www.healthaim.com/insomnia-costs-heavy-exchequer-says-report/45465