Why millions of people have forgotten what normal sleep is – a study

A study by King's College London and Flinders University has shown that millions of people continue to suffer from chronic insomnia and sleep disorders even after the lifting of quarantine restrictions. The quality of rest has not improved, and having had COVID-19 is not the main cause.

Scientists from King's College London, together with Australia's Flinders University, conducted a large-scale study showing that millions of people still suffer from chronic insomnia and sleep disorders despite the complete lifting of quarantine restrictions. The study re-surveyed 2,390 participants who had been monitored during lockdowns. To the researchers' surprise, the quality of nighttime rest had hardly improved: most respondents complained of daytime sleepiness and difficulty falling asleep. It was also found that having had a coronavirus infection is not the main cause—high levels of sleep disorders persisted regardless of whether a person had COVID-19 or not. Scientists also recorded an increase in cases of restless legs syndrome. Doctors emphasize that chronic sleep deprivation has a destructive effect on immunity, memory, and overall health, and recommend seeking professional help.