About Dr. Phyllis C. Zee:
Dr. Phyllis C. Zee is the Benjamin and Virginia T. Boshes Professor in Neurology and Director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois, where she is also Associate Director of the Center for Sleep and Circadian Biology.
A fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, and a member of the American Neurological Association, Dr. Zee has served on numerous national and international committees, NIH scientific review panels, and advisory boards. She is President of the Sleep Research Society, past Chair of the NIH Sleep Disorders Research Advisory Board, and a Deputy Editor for the journal SLEEP. Dr. Zee is the recipient of the 2011 American Academy of Neurology Sleep Science Award.
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SUBJECT DISCUSSED: NEW SURVEY UNCOVERS HOW INSOMNIA/SLEEPING DIFFICULTIES AFFECT QUALITY OF LIFE
Veterans Day Tie-in: In a recent John Hopkins study over 74% of veterans reported having insomnia, a figure that’s even higher in veterans diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
GUEST: Phyllis C. Zee, MD, Ph.D., Chief of Sleep Medicine, Department of Neurology, Northwestern University
Background: A new survey entitled “How America Sleeps and Wakes” has uncovered that 90% of patients with insomnia or sleeping difficulties agreed that “having a good night’s sleep” means having a “good day” the next morning.1 The survey, recently presented at the 2019 World Sleep Congress, explores the impact of insomnia or sleeping difficulties on individual performance, interpersonal relationships and psychosocial behavior. The data also shows that next-day functioning is of high importance to people with insomnia or sleeping difficulties, yet most do not wake ready.
- Approximately two-thirds of patients rated “waking up refreshed and ready to start the day” and “being able to function normally throughout the day” as “very important” in managing their insomnia or sleeping difficulties (63% and 64%, respectively).1
- When they wake up the next day after not having a good night’s sleep, 67% of patients reported feeling tired or fatigued, and only 7% reported feeling “ready to start their day.”1
- Approximately 93% of patients who experienced sleepiness or grogginess in the morning reported having these difficulties at least two to three times per week.1
- More than eight in 10 cohabitants (85%) agreed that they themselves are more likely to have a good day when the person with insomnia or sleeping difficulties in the home has a good night’s sleep.1
- Over half of cohabitants (53%) whose relatives experienced morning sleepiness or grogginess rated these difficulties as very or somewhat bothersome for themselves.1
- When their partner or relative does not have a good night’s sleep, a quarter of cohabitants (26%) reported feeling tired or fatigued themselves.
