Taiwan is known to be a pill-popping country. And with the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more Taiwanese people, especially the elderly are popping sleeping pills.
The National Health Research Institutes says that Taiwanese people consume an enormous number of sleeping pills each year. One brand alone is consumed 140 million times per year here. And the number of people taking sleeping pills continues to rise. Last year, 25% of the population 15 and older were taking sleeping pills, but this year, that’s up to 30%. That translates to 2.5 to 3 million people.
One cause may be COVID-19: doctors have reported a 30% increase in office visits related to a lack of sleep. Psychiatrist Chen Hsi-chung says that the majority of these new patients are senior citizens. He says they don’t go outdoors as much because of the pandemic.
That isn’t the whole story, though. Some are losing sleep because of pressures in life. Doctors say that 75% of those who suffer long-term insomnia also suffer from psychiatric disorders, while 15% of long-term insomnia is linked to physical illness.
Doctors also say not all patients with sleeping disorders can rely on medication. Dr. Chen calls for people to get enough exposure to the sun or exercise. He says that even a simple cardio would help people get some sleep.
Doctors warn that those who lose sleep for more than three days a week over a three-month period should seek medical attention. But they warn that popping pills without a doctor’s instructions could be harmful to patient’s overall health.