Next Steps

Outlook

The outlook is good if the person adopts good sleep habits. It is important to note that one's health is not at risk if one does not get 6-8 hours of sleep every day and that different people have different natural sleep requirements. However, the following have been associated with insomnia:

• Increased risk of death is associated with short sleep lengths.
  
  
• Insomnia is the best predictor of the future development of depression.
  
  
• Increased risk exists of developing anxiety, alcohol and drug use disorders, and nicotine dependence.
  
  
• Poor health and decreased activity occur.
  
  
• Onset of insomnia in older persons is related to decreased survival.