They warn of the increase in miracle products against insomnia

He Sleep and Wakefulness Disorders Study Group Spanish Society of Neurology (SEN) has warned about the increase in “miracle” products and services without medical validity and aimed at people with insomniawhich not only represents a “significant” financial expense for the patient, but can also be harmful to their health.

In addition to generating frustration in the patient himself by not obtaining the expected results, it also seeking appropriate medical help is delayedwhich favors its chronification.

“Although it is positive that interest in the importance of sleep and in measures aimed at improving it is increasing, it is increasingly common to find categorical statements and proposals that lack scientific validity, in many cases offering false solutions or without medical validity. In recent years we are observing an exponential increase in products and services aimed at people with chronic insomnia,” declared the group’s coordinator, Dr. Celia García Malo.

Among these products stand out supplements and pills that are presented as “natural”, miracle sprays or infusions, special pillows, masks with built-in technology, meditation applications, electronic devices, glasses with light filters, colored lamps or even weekend retreats aimed at “curing” insomnia.

In addition, he has detailed that the latest available data shows how the sale of sleep remedies without a prescription in pharmacies will represent a market greater than the market in Spain in 2022. 130 million euros.

“However, the reality is that none of these products have proven effectiveness in the treatment of this disorder. It is an industry with great marketing power that seeks its niche among those who suffer from this health problem,” added the specialist.

Insomnia affects up to 15 percent of Spanish adults chronically, which impacts their quality of life, work performance and increases the risk of developing other diseases such as depression, anxiety, high blood pressure or diabetes.

The importance of going to a professional

This is why SEN specialists have warned of the importance of go to a health professional trained for a correct diagnosis and treatment of insomnia, which must be treated as a medical disorder, and that sometimes there may be other sleep pathologies that require specific attention such as sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome or circadian rhythm disorders.

“Once the patient with insomnia has been evaluated, and another series of pathologies that can also manifest in sleep problems have been ruled out, the cognitive behavioral therapy It is what we consider the first choice treatment for insomnia. There are many patients with insomnia who may be candidates to receive this treatment, and it is an intervention aimed at reestablishing a normal sleep pattern,” García Malo added.

After this, he stressed that cognitive-behavioral therapy is not limited to simple sleep hygiene guidelines, but requires an individualized evaluation, since Each person has particular characteristics and needs.

The expert has also recognized that access to this treatment is still far from “responding” to the high number of patients who require it, a reality on which we must “continue working and demanding” as a scientific society.

“In certain cases, in addition to considering cognitive-behavioral therapy if applicable, it may be necessary to resort to pharmacological treatment, but always under medical supervision. What is clear is that insomnia is not resolved with quick solutions or miracle products,” declared the Group’s secretary, Dr. Ana Fernández Arcos.

In this sense, he has stressed that insomnia is a complex disorder that must be assessed within the framework of a complete clinical history, identifying triggering and associated factors and delving into its causes, and that “only in this way” is it possible to offer solutions that solve the problem from its roots and reduce the risk of chronicification.

Finally, society specialists have insisted on the importance of the population being “distrustful” of “misleading” advertising and not being “drawn away” by fads or promises without a scientific basis.