A federal study concluded in 2008, certain states have higher incidence rates of sleeplessness than others.
Functioning on a few hours of sleep isn’t just miserable, it’s dangerous, as recent news has suggested. Several air-traffic controllers were caught sleeping on the job last month, prompting the FAA to fire a few. Recent studies have proven that sleep deprivation can make people more unethical, less attractive, and can weaken problem-solving skills.
But sleep can be more than a personal problem, it can be a regional epidemic. As a federal study concluded in 2008, certain states have higher incidence rates of sleeplessness than others due to high rates of obesity, heart disease, and smoking—health issues that can cause sleeping problems. The study found that West Virginians have double the national rate of sleeplessness, which explains why five of the top 30 most sleep-deprived cities are found in the mountain state.
To compile the sleepiest cities, we partnered with Experian Simmons, which provided a city-by-city tally of sleep-survey data. We considered the percentage of the population that reported minor or severe sleeplessness/insomnia in the last year, as well as the population that used prescription or non-prescription medication to alleviate sleeplessness/insomnia. Rates of sleeplessness was weighted twice that of medication rates to put a statistical precedence on total lack of sleep. Only metro areas with a population greater than 500,000 residents were included. (Among metro areas with just 100,000 residents or more, the top 10 would be Charleston, W.V.; Bluefield, W.V.; Jonesboro, Ark.; Mount Vernon, Ill.; Dayton, Ohio; Wheeling, W.V., Duluth, Wisc.; Clarksburg, W.V.; Parkersburg, W.V.; Panama City Fla.)
1. Charleston, WV
Population: 950,257
Experienced insomnia in the last year: 10.2%
Experienced severe insomnia in the last year: 2.5%
Used headache/pain relievers for sleeplessness: 7.93%
Used non-prescription drugs for insomnia: 2.5%
Used prescription drugs for insomnia: 3.6%
2. Mount Vernon, IL
Population: 762,617
Experienced insomnia in the last year: 9.1%
Experienced severe insomnia in the last year: 3.1%
Used headache/pain relievers for sleeplessness: 8.68%
Used non-prescription drugs for insomnia: 2.1%
Used prescription drugs for insomnia: 3.4%
3. Dayton, OH
Population: 913,994
Experienced insomnia in the last year: 8.3%
Experienced severe insomnia in the last year: 2.1%
Used headache/pain relievers for sleeplessness: 8.50%
Used non-prescription drugs for insomnia: 2.4%
Used prescription drugs for insomnia: 3.6%
4. Springfield, MO
Population: 808,546
Experienced insomnia in the last year: 8.6%
Experienced severe insomnia in the last year: 2.8%
Used headache/pain relievers for sleeplessness: 8.92%
Used non-prescription drugs for insomnia: 1.7%
Used prescription drugs for insomnia: 3.6%
5. Lexington, KY
Population: 961,374
Experienced insomnia in the last year: 8.4%
Experienced severe insomnia in the last year: 2.1%
Used headache/pain relievers for sleeplessness: 8.00%
Used non-prescription drugs for insomnia: 2.1%
Used prescription drugs for insomnia: 3.3%
6. Tri-Cities, TN-VA
Population: 628,518
Experienced insomnia in the last year: 9.0%
Experienced severe insomnia in the last year: 2.3%
Used headache/pain relievers for sleeplessness: 7.61%
Used non-prescription drugs for insomnia: 1.8%
Used prescription drugs for insomnia: 3.3%
7. Evansville, IN
Population: 550,345
Experienced insomnia in the last year: 8.2%
Experienced severe insomnia in the last year: 2.4%
Used headache/pain relievers for sleeplessness: 8.89%
Used non-prescription drugs for insomnia: 1.9%
Used prescription drugs for insomnia: 3.4%
8. Roanoke, VA
Population: 886,977
Experienced insomnia in the last year: 8.1%
Experienced severe insomnia in the last year: 2.5%
Used headache/pain relievers for sleeplessness: 8.08%
Used non-prescription drugs for insomnia: 1.9%
Used prescription drugs for insomnia: 3.2%
9. Harrisburg, PA
Population: 1,459,533
Experienced insomnia in the last year: 7.6%
Experienced severe insomnia in the last year: 1.8%
Used headache/pain relievers for sleeplessness: 8.92%
Used non-prescription drugs for insomnia: 2.3%
Used prescription drugs for insomnia: 3.1%
10. Davenport, IA
Population: 586,358
Experienced insomnia in the last year: 7.7%
Experienced severe insomnia in the last year: 1.9%
Used headache/pain relievers for sleeplessness: 8.38%
Used non-prescription drugs for insomnia: 2.3%
Used prescription drugs for insomnia: 3.1%
11. Tulsa, OK
Population: 1,000,458
Experienced insomnia in the last year: 8.2%
Experienced severe insomnia in the last year: 3.1%
Used headache/pain relievers for sleeplessness: 8.22%
Used non-prescription drugs for insomnia: 1.5%
Used prescription drugs for insomnia: 3.2%
12. Youngstown, OH
Population: 517,597
Experienced insomnia in the last year: 7.9%
Experienced severe insomnia in the last year: 1.8%
Used headache/pain relievers for sleeplessness: 8.55%
Used non-prescription drugs for insomnia: 2.2%
Used prescription drugs for insomnia: 3.0%
13. Fort Myers, FL
Population: 929,675
Experienced insomnia in the last year: 7.6%
Experienced severe insomnia in the last year: 2.0%
Used headache/pain relievers for sleeplessness: 8.84%
Used non-prescription drugs for insomnia: 2.1%
Used prescription drugs for insomnia: 3.3%
14. Pittsburgh, PA
Population: 2,218,314
Experienced insomnia in the last year: 8.0%
Experienced severe insomnia in the last year: 1.6%
Used headache/pain relievers for sleeplessness: 8.32%
Used non-prescription drugs for insomnia: 2.1%
Used prescription drugs for insomnia: 3.2%
15. Colorado Springs, CO
Population: 660,404
Experienced insomnia in the last year: 7.8%
Experienced severe insomnia in the last year: 1.6%
Used headache/pain relievers for sleeplessness: 8.29%
Used non-prescription drugs for insomnia: 2.3%
Used prescription drugs for insomnia: 3.0%
16. Orlando, FL
Population: 2,851,338
Experienced insomnia in the last year: 7.9%
Experienced severe insomnia in the last year: 1.8%
Used headache/pain relievers for sleeplessness: 8.45%
Used non-prescription drugs for insomnia: 2.2%
Used prescription drugs for insomnia: 2.9%
17. Nashville, TN
Population: 1,957,006
Experienced insomnia in the last year: 7.5%
Experienced severe insomnia in the last year: 2.5%
Used headache/pain relievers for sleeplessness: 9.19%
Used non-prescription drugs for insomnia: 1.8%
Used prescription drugs for insomnia: 3.2%
18. Ft. Wayne, IN
Population: 519,668
Experienced insomnia in the last year: 7.4%
Experienced severe insomnia in the last year: 1.6%
Used headache/pain relievers for sleeplessness: 8.68%
Used non-prescription drugs for insomnia: 2.2%
Used prescription drugs for insomnia: 3.3%
19. Columbus, OH
Population: 1,729,340
Experienced insomnia in the last year: 7.3%
Experienced severe insomnia in the last year: 1.9%
Used headache/pain relievers for sleeplessness: 8.40%
Used non-prescription drugs for insomnia: 2.2%
Used prescription drugs for insomnia: 2.9%
20. Johnstown, OH
Population: 599,666
Experienced insomnia in the last year: 7.5%
Experienced severe insomnia in the last year: 1.8%
Used headache/pain relievers for sleeplessness: 8.16%
Used non-prescription drugs for insomnia: 2.1%
Used prescription drugs for insomnia: 3.0%
21. Flint, MI
Population: 889,673
Experienced insomnia in the last year: 7.8%
Experienced severe insomnia in the last year: 1.9%
Used headache/pain relievers for sleeplessness: 8.13%
Used non-prescription drugs for insomnia: 1.9%
Used prescription drugs for insomnia: 3.2%
22. South Bend, IN
Population: 658,767
Experienced insomnia in the last year: 7.3%
Experienced severe insomnia in the last year: 1.6%
Used headache/pain relievers for sleeplessness: 8.93%
Used non-prescription drugs for insomnia: 2.2%
Used prescription drugs for insomnia: 2.8%
23. Tampa, FL
Population: 3,434,750
Experienced insomnia in the last year: 7.5%
Experienced severe insomnia in the last year: 2.0%
Used headache/pain relievers for sleeplessness: 8.52%
Used non-prescription drugs for insomnia: 1.9%
Used prescription drugs for insomnia: 3.0%
24. Kansas City, KS
Population: 1,787,277
Experienced insomnia in the last year: 7.3%
Experienced severe insomnia in the last year: 2.0%
Used headache/pain relievers for sleeplessness: 8.83%
Used non-prescription drugs for insomnia: 2.0%
Used prescription drugs for insomnia: 2.9%
25. Knoxville, TN
Population: 1,031,187
Experienced insomnia in the last year: 7.9%
Experienced severe insomnia in the last year: 1.9%
Used headache/pain relievers for sleeplessness: 7.54%
Used non-prescription drugs for insomnia: 1.8%
Used prescription drugs for insomnia: 3.0%
26. Cincinnati, OH
Population: 1,757,168
Experienced insomnia in the last year: 7.1%
Experienced severe insomnia in the last year: 1.8%
Used headache/pain relievers for sleeplessness: 8.42%
Used non-prescription drugs for insomnia: 2.0%
Used prescription drugs for insomnia: 3.0%
27. Albany, NY
Population: 1,063,799
Experienced insomnia in the last year: 7.3%
Experienced severe insomnia in the last year: 1.6%
Used headache/pain relievers for sleeplessness: 8.34%
Used non-prescription drugs for insomnia: 1.9%
Used prescription drugs for insomnia: 3.2%
28. Wichita, KS
Population: 859,928
Experienced insomnia in the last year: 7.6%
Experienced severe insomnia in the last year: 1.7%
Used headache/pain relievers for sleeplessness: 8.70%
Used non-prescription drugs for insomnia: 1.9%
Used prescription drugs for insomnia: 3.0%
29. Greenville, NC
Population: 1,639,054
Experienced insomnia in the last year: 7.6%
Experienced severe insomnia in the last year: 2.2%
Used headache/pain relievers for sleeplessness: 8.70%
Used non-prescription drugs for insomnia: 1.6%
Used prescription drugs for insomnia: 3.0%
30. Buffalo, NY
Population: 1,214,774
Experienced insomnia in the last year: 7.0%
Experienced severe insomnia in the last year: 1.5%
Used headache/pain relievers for sleeplessness: 8.35%
Used non-prescription drugs for insomnia: 2.2%
Used prescription drugs for insomnia: 2.7%
Photo Credit: Cleveland Leader
Via Daily Beast
