Insomnia Cases Surge in Korea, Linked to Increased Health Risks
Seoul, south Korea – A growing number of South Koreans are battling persistent insomnia, with new data revealing a significant rise in cases and a concerning link to serious health complications, including cardiovascular disease and depression.
The surge in sleep disorders comes as many struggled through unusually warm summer nights, but experts say the problem extends far beyond seasonal discomfort. Last year alone, insomnia diagnoses in Korea increased by 17% over four years, impacting individuals across all age groups and raising alarms among medical professionals. The consequences of chronic sleep deprivation are far-reaching, extending beyond daytime fatigue to possibly life-threatening conditions.
A woman in her 40s, who has experienced insomnia for over a decade, described periods were she whent days without sleep, leading to digestive issues and a general decline in health. “If you are too tired, you don’t sleep,” she shared. “As I lacked sleep, there was another problem. ItS a hazy day all day long, so it’s hard to have a hard time, and even health has begun to be threatened.If you eat rice, you go to the bathroom and vomiting started.”
Medical experts point to a combination of factors driving the increase, including stress, irregular sleep schedules, and lifestyle choices like caffeine and alcohol consumption. Dietary habits also play a role, with spicy foods raising gastrointestinal temperature and fatty foods potentially causing acid reflux, both disrupting sleep.
The health risks associated with prolonged insomnia are significant. Studies show insomnia patients have an 8.1 times higher mortality rate from cardiovascular disease compared to those without sleep disorders. Moreover, individuals sleeping less than five hours a night face a 3.7 times greater risk of developing depression.
“It also adversely affects physical health, mental health and cognitive health,” explains Professor Kang Seung-geol of the Department of Psychiatry at Gachon University Gil Hospital. “There may be such problems that are less memory or concentration.”
To combat the growing trend, experts emphasize the importance of establishing healthy sleep habits. Maximizing daytime sunlight exposure helps regulate the body’s biological clock and promotes serotonin production, which converts to melatonin – a hormone crucial for sleep. Conversely, exposure to blue light emitted from electronic devices suppresses melatonin secretion, making it vital to disconnect from smartphones and other screens at least two hours before bedtime. Maintaining proper spinal alignment during sleep, by sleeping on one’s back, is also recommended to improve sleep quality.
