Aeroflow Sleep survey reveals growing gap in sleep health education, DIY sleep trends

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Many Americans struggling with sleep are turning to unvetted online trends instead of seeking medical advice, according to a new survey from Aeroflow Sleep. 

The survey of 1,884 U.S. adults found that, while 81% of Americans struggle with sleep, many are turning to unvetted online trends instead of seeking professional medical advice.  

Key survey results: A public health concern  

The survey uncovered a widespread struggle with sleep across the U.S. adult population:  

• 81.64% of respondents reported having trouble sleeping.  
• 58.78% are getting less than the recommended seven hours of sleep per night.  
• 63.82% of respondents feel their sleep negatively impacts their day-to-day activities and ability to complete tasks; and 
• 72.82% feel it negatively impacts their mental health, at least sometimes.  

The rise of DIY sleep trends & a lack of oversight  

The data show a clear and concerning trend of individuals relying on unverified online sources for sleep help as opposed to turning to medical professionals:  

• 69.82% of respondents have heard of online sleep trends like "mouth taping" and "magnesium mocktails."  
• Of those who had heard of the trends, 58% have tried one. A striking 60% of those who tried a trend did so without consulting a healthcare provider. 
• The data reveals that a total of 32% of respondents are using melatonin and 22% are using magnesium supplements.  

"The prevalence of self-guided approaches and adoption of unvetted online sleep trends without consulting a physician is concerning,” said Dr. Carleara Weiss, PhD, Sleep Science Advisor at Aeroflow Sleep. “It also emphasizes a potentially high prevalence of undiagnosed sleep disturbances. These findings demonstrate a clear need for health care professionals to be more proactive in discussing sleep with their patients and individuals to seek evidence-based guidance before making changes to their health routine. Without professional oversight, these self-guided approaches could have unforeseen consequences."  

The "Sleep Health Gap"  

A significant disconnect exists between patient need and health care provider engagement. The data reveals several layers to this gap, including age and gender disparities:  

• Overall, 64.6% of survey respondents have spoken to a doctor about their sleep. However, an overwhelming 80% of all respondents wish their doctors provided more sleep-related resources.  
• A notable "gender flip" in health care-seeking behavior identified women ages 18-29 as more proactive in consulting a doctor (51.3%) than their male counterparts (42.1%). A reversal occurs later in life, with the survey finding men aged 45-60 far more likely to consult a doctor (60.6%) than women in the same age group (40.9%).