As the world marks "Insomnia Awareness Day", a recent survey in Shanghai 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. "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."

(China Daily March 21, 2007)