Sleep Research Reveals That Citizens in Croatia Struggle to Find Peaceful Sleep: Only One Third Sleep Well

As many as 65 percent of Croatian citizens have problems with sleeping and/or falling asleep. Eighty-eight percent rate their sleep quality as average, poor, or very poor, and 84 percent cite psychological factors, most commonly stress and worries, as predominant sleep distressors.

These alarming data highlight a pronounced public health problem in the country, stemming from a sleep quality study conducted for Dukat by the Hendal agency in March this year.

Sleep problems most often manifest as waking up during the night and the inability to fall back asleep or as frequent awakenings at night. Furthermore, it is significant that citizens who have problems with sleeping and/or falling asleep often lie in bed thinking about business and personal problems, and the feelings that prevail during bedtime are stress, anxiety, and fear of difficult falling asleep or insomnia.

Recognizing the extent of the sleep problem among Croatian citizens, Dukat has introduced a new, innovative, and natural functional product – Dukat Laku noć, a milk drink that helps with falling asleep, containing extracts of lemon balm, linden, and the essential amino acid tryptophan. ‘Helps with falling asleep’ is also a health claim approved by the Ministry of Health.

Singles Sleep Better Than Married, Men Better Than Women

Interesting results were also obtained in demographic categories, showing that in Croatia, men sleep better than women, citizens aged 18 to 24 compared to those over 25, singles compared to married/divorced individuals, citizens without children compared to those with children, students compared to working citizens, and citizens of Slavonia compared to those from Lika, Kordun, and Banija.

The results of the research and the importance of quality sleep for health and well-being were discussed by participants in a panel discussion titled ‘Good Sleep as a Prerequisite for Good Health. What Happens When There Is No Sleep?‘, also organized by Dukat. The panel featured: Dr. Jelena Šarić Jurić, MD, neurologist, subspecialist in epilepsy, ESRS somnologist – a sleep medicine expert from the Neurology Clinic of the Clinical Hospital Center Osijek, Maja Vučić, psychology professor, Lara Spalldi Barišić, MD, specialist in gynecology and obstetrics from Croatia Polyclinic, and Sandra Krstev Barać, MSc in nutrition.

– If problems with falling asleep and/or sleeping persist for one to three months, we are talking about a medical problem that requires medical attention. Unfortunately, patients often seek medical help too late, when sleep problems are chronic and thus harder to treat. In fact, less than 5 percent of patients visit a clinic within a few months of the onset of sleep issues – emphasized Dr. Jelena Šarić Jurić, MD, neurologist.

Psychologist Maja Vučić points out that cognitive-behavioral therapy shows excellent results in treating sleep problems.

– It involves a combination of cognitive techniques that change the way we think and behavioral techniques that influence changes in behavior in everyday life, including when going to bed. Combined with relaxation and breathing exercises, guided fantasies that allow us to drift into another relaxing world, reading a book, or listening to calming sound frequencies, it is possible to significantly contribute to reducing sleep problems – emphasized Vučić.

That age affects sleep quality was confirmed by research indicating that 36 percent of citizens cite menopause or andropause as reasons for sleep problems. Gynecologist Lara Spalldi Barišić from Croatia Polyclinic points out that fluctuations in hormone levels lead to various changes that also affect sleep. One of the most common changes in women during menopause is hot flashes and night sweats, which consequently create sleep problems.

‘Food is Medicine’ is a statement attributed to the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, who claimed that proper and balanced nutrition can play a key role in the prevention and treatment of diseases. Today we know that our diet significantly affects sleep quality. Moreover, research shows that individuals with poor dietary habits and chronic digestive issues sleep shorter and less efficiently compared to those who pay attention to their diet and health.

Sandra Krstev Barać, MSc in nutrition, emphasizes that for individuals with sleep problems, careful planning of the evening meal can also help – that dinner should not be too late and should contain foods rich in the amino acid tryptophan, from which serotonin and the sleep hormone melatonin are produced. Milk and dairy products are a natural and valuable source of tryptophan. It is equally important that dinner contains enough complex carbohydrates from quinoa, amaranth, rice, whole grain bread, or crackers, as carbohydrates increase the availability of tryptophan, which is crucial for sleep.

The synergy of milk, lemon balm, linden, and tryptophan for easier falling asleep

– The connection between lemon balm, linden, and the amino acid tryptophan lies in their complementary mechanisms of action in promoting relaxation and reducing stress and anxiety. While lemon balm and linden achieve their effects by modulating neurotransmitter activity and reducing oxidative stress, the amino acid tryptophan acts as a precursor for serotonin synthesis – explained Dr. Jelena Šarić Jurić, MD, neurologist, adding that the combination of milk with lemon balm and linden can provide a synergistic approach to promoting relaxation and improving sleep quality, and combining these natural remedies can contribute to promoting overall well-being and mental health.