Final answer:
Between 30% and 50% of the population experiences a sleep disorder in their lifetime, with insomnia being the most common. Treatments vary from sleep hygiene improvements to medications, although non-pharmacological treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy can be more effective.
Step-by-step explanation:
Between 30% and 50% of the population suffers from a sleep disorder at some point in their lives. Sleep disorders encompass a variety of issues, ranging from insomnia which involves trouble falling or staying asleep, to sleep apnea which is characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep, parasomnias like sleepwalking, and narcolepsy which includes an overwhelming need to sleep during waking hours.
These disorders are significant as they can have profound effects on overall health, daytime performance, and quality of life. The potential of sleep issues being medicalized is a concern, with increasing rates of prescription sleep medications despite the availability of non-pharmacological interventions like cognitive behavioral therapy that may be more effective and have fewer side effects.