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Sleepless in Shanghai

By Zou Huilin (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-03-21 08:55

SHANGHAI: As the world marks "Insomnia Awareness Day", a recent survey
here has shown that an increasing number of Shanghai residents,
especially the young, are suffering from sleeplessness.

The survey, which was conducted by the Insomnia Studies Institute of the
Shanghai Chinese Medicine Hospital - a research center that investigates
the causes and treatment of the condition - found that more than 40
percent of the city's residents suffered from insomnia to some degree or
other.

The results also showed that more and more young people were struggling
with sleeplessness, with 13 percent of all insomniacs found to be aged
under 24, a whopping five percentage points higher than the figure
released five years ago.

Wang Qiaochu, the institute's vice-director and professor of Chinese
medicine, said the major reasons for insomnia in children were the
pressures of school and an unhealthy lifestyle.

Wang said: "Clever, sensitive and introverted children are the most
likely to suffer from insomnia because they tend to feel more pressure at
school."

Xu Jian, a doctor working at the institute, said that children who
consume an imbalanced diet, such as excessive amounts of carbonated
drinks and caffeine, too much meat, and too little fat and protein, are
also more likely to suffer from insomnia.

On dealing with the condition, Xu said that of the university and senior
high school students found to suffer from insomnia, more than 25 percent
said they had used a hypnagogue to help them sleep. Of those, more than
40 percent said they depended on such drugs.

However, Xu warned that using a hypnagogue for a prolonged period can
lead to dangerous side effects, including making people less attentive
and more forgetful.

Wang said that insomnia was also reaching worrying levels among older
patients. Of the 5,000 adult insomniacs surveyed, 51 percent were aged
between 30 and 50.

The survey also found that 35 percent of the sufferers held middle-level
management positions.

One IT manager, surnamed Li, said: "I have suffered from insomnia every
night for the past two years, although my job is very stressful."

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