Key takeaways:
- Many adults acknowledge poor sleep yet often rely on self-directed or internet-based remedies rather than professional care.
- The findings suggest a gap between patient sleep health needs and the resources or conversations offered by healthcare providers.
- Demographic differences indicate that age and gender may influence whether individuals seek medical help for sleep problems.
- Experts say the data underscore the importance of proactive physician-patient dialogue about sleep and potential underlying disorders.
- Aeroflow Sleep aims to use the survey insights to strengthen education and access to evidence-based sleep care.
Durable medical equipment provider Aeroflow Sleep, which specializes in CPAP supplies, today announced the results of a proprietary survey. The survey of 1,884 US adults found that while a majority of Americans (81%) struggle with sleep, many are turning to unvetted online trends instead of seeking professional medical advice.
The survey uncovered a widespread struggle with sleep across the adult population:
- 81.64% of respondents reported having trouble sleeping.
- 58.78% are getting less than the recommended seven hours of sleep per night.
- 63.82% of respondents feel their sleep negatively impacts their day-to-day activities and ability to complete tasks; and nearly 3 of 4 respondents (72.82%) feel it negatively impacts their mental health at least sometimes.
The Rise of DIY Sleep Hacks
Many survey-takers revealed relying on unverified online sources for sleep help as opposed to turning to medical professionals:
- 69.82% of respondents have heard of online sleep trends like mouth taping and magnesium mocktails.
- Of those who had heard of the trends, 58% had tried one (60% of those who tried a trend did so without consulting a healthcare provider)
- 32% of respondents are using melatonin
- 22% are using magnesium supplements
“The prevalence of self-guided approaches and adoption of unvetted online sleep trends without consulting a physician is concerning. It also emphasizes a potentially high prevalence of undiagnosed sleep disturbances,” says Carleara Weiss, PhD, sleep science advisor at Aeroflow Sleep, in a release. “These findings demonstrate a clear need for healthcare professionals to be more proactive in discussing sleep with their patients and for individuals to seek out evidence-based guidance before making changes to their health routine. Without professional oversight, these self-guided approaches could have unforeseen consequences.”
Sleep Health Gap
A significant disconnect exists between patient need and healthcare provider engagement, according to the survey. The data reveals several layers to this gap, including age and gender disparities:
- 64.6% of survey respondents have spoken to a doctor about their sleep. However, 80% of all respondents wish their doctors provided more sleep-related resources.
- A notable “gender flip” in healthcare-seeking behavior identified women ages 18-29 as more proactive in consulting a doctor (51.3%) than their male counterparts (42.1%). A dramatic reversal occurs later in life, with the survey finding men aged 45-60 far more likely to consult a doctor (60.6%) than women in the same age group (40.9%).
- The data also revealed a concerning trend among senior women. A full 55% of women aged 60 and older reported seeking no help for their sleep problems, medical or otherwise, compared to only 33% of men in the same age group.
“The differing behaviors we see in how people approach their sleep health, such as the proactive nature of young women and the engagement of middle-aged men, highlights a unique opportunity for tailored patient education,” says sleep physician Christopher Allen, MD, scientific advisor at Aeroflow Sleep, in a release. “The data shows us that a one-size-fits-all approach to sleep health can fall short. We must encourage all individuals to recognize the signs of a sleep disorder and seek a professional medical diagnosis.”
“Our mission at Aeroflow Sleep is to empower individuals to sleep well and live better,” says Joey Sasvari, director of Aeroflow Sleep, in a release. “These results motivate us to expand our initiatives for improving sleep health resources and access nationwide, ensuring sleep health is a top priority for patients and providers alike.”
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