IMAGE SOURCE: Doctorexclusive.com

BY KIM ST. ONGE

New statistics might serve as a wake up call for some insomniacs. A recent study shows that lack of sleep costs the U.S $63.2 billions a year in productivity.  

Dr. Ronald Kessler found that dead tired U.S. workers lose on average the equivalent of 11.3 days a year. Andhran News reports -- Kessler says the problem with insomnia isn’t about employees missing work.

“It’s an under appreciated problem. Americans are not missing work because of insomnia. They are still going to their jobs but accomplishing less because they're tired. In an information-based economy, it's difficult to find a condition that has a greater effect on productivity.”

The Sleep Journal says the study isn’t an eye opener. In fact, it’s more of a snooze.

“As experimental studies increasingly link insomnia with a range of negative effects on functioning, from increased sleepiness and fatigue to reduced psychomotor performance... it is unsurprising that insomnia has been associated with significant workplace deficits.”

The study sampled 7,428 employees and asked them about sleep habits and work performance. USA TODAY also reports a link between sleep habits and school.

“The researchers also found that insomnia rates were 19.9 percent for those with less than a high school education and 21.5 percent for college graduates.”

But KBOI radio reports -- the study proved education isn’t the only contributing factor.

“The study also found that insomnia affected only 14.3 percent of workers aged 65 and older, and that female employees were more prone to it than their male counterparts -- 27.1 percent to 19.7 percent, respectively.”


In a Science Daily article -- sleepmaster Kessler explains why the negative effects of wide-eyed nights are often overlooked.


“Accurate estimates on the costs of insomnia in the workplace might justify the implementation of screening and treatment programs for employees. Because insomnia is not considered an illness -- the kind that results in lost days at work -- employers tend to ignore its consequences."

Insomnia treatment ranges from about $200 a year for generic sleeping pills to as much as $1,200 for professional therapy.