KENILWORTH, N.J., April 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Merck (NYSE:
MRK), known as MSD outside the United
States and Canada, today
announced it is teaming up with Emmy® Award-winning
actress Christina Applegate to
educate the millions of Americans struggling with insomnia. An
insomnia sufferer for much of her adult life, Applegate is sharing
her personal experience to inspire others to learn more about how
to get the sleep they need.
"I've lived with insomnia for many years, but I'm making it a
priority to address my sleep problems. I'm willing to experiment
with different things to find a solution that works best for me,
which is why I'm working with Merck, to help others struggling with
insomnia learn more about what might be keeping them awake," said
Applegate. "If you have insomnia, it's important to know you're not
alone, there are millions of people also struggling with their
sleep. Talk about what you're going through with others, including
your doctor, and continue trying new things to help manage your
insomnia."
Applegate had talked to her doctor in the past, but only
recently learned about the two systems in the brain that regulate
sleep, and how a problem with the wake and sleep systems may
contribute to insomnia. Now, she is encouraging others to visit
WhySoAwake.com to get facts about insomnia and start a new dialogue
with their health care providers about what might be keeping them
awake.
The Role of the Sleep and Wake Systems in Insomnia
Scientific discoveries suggest that the brain has two systems –
the wake and sleep systems. When the two systems function as they
should, they complement each other, taking turns being in charge
and sending signals at the right times. But that's not always the
case for some people. Science suggests that when insomnia occurs,
your sleep signals may be telling your brain to sleep, but the wake
signals in your brain may not be turning down like they should.
"Sleep is such an integral part of our overall health and
wellness, yet millions of Americans continue to struggle with
symptoms of insomnia," said David
Cloud, CEO of the National Sleep Foundation. "If you have
insomnia, it's important to educate yourself about the condition,
so you're better prepared to discuss your difficulties with sleep
with your health care provider."
In the United States,
approximately 70 million people are affected by one or more
symptoms of insomnia. Of these, an estimated 23.5 million people,
roughly 10 percent of the adult population, experience symptoms
consistent with the diagnosis of insomnia. Insomnia can affect
people in a variety of ways, both physically and psychologically.
It is important for people who are struggling with insomnia to
speak with their health care provider about it to see what can be
done.
"At Merck, we're committed to helping patients struggling with
sleep manage their insomnia, which includes developing resources to
increase understanding about the condition," said Eric Luthi, executive director and global brand
leader, Insomnia marketing, Merck Global Human Health. "We are
excited to work with Christina
Applegate on Why So Awake and hope that through
education, we can help inspire a meaningful dialogue between
patients and health care providers about insomnia."
To learn more about the brain's sleep and wake system, and to
assess your sleep habits, visit www.WhySoAwake.com. You can also
join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.
About Christina
Applegate
Christina Applegate has starred
in several major television and film roles, including Married
with Children, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy,
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues and Vacation. Her
career achievements include a Primetime Emmy® Award for
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, three additional
Primetime Emmy® Award nominations, three Golden
Globe® nominations and numerous other honors throughout
her career. She also earned a Tony Award® nomination for
her starring role in the Broadway revival of Sweet Charity.
About Why So Awake
Why So Awake is an educational resource, developed by
Merck, which aims to help consumers learn more about what might be
happening in their brain when they're trying to sleep, and how the
sleep and wake systems play a role in insomnia. Why So Awake
features tools to help explain how certain behaviors may affect
sleep and offers a customized doctor discussion guide designed to
help patients renew conversations with their health care providers
about insomnia, and what might really be keeping them awake. For
more information, visit WhySoAwake.com and join the conversation
on Facebook and Twitter.
About Merck
For 125 years, Merck has been a global health care leader
working to help the world be well. Merck is known as MSD outside
the United States and Canada. Through our prescription medicines,
vaccines, biologic therapies and animal health products, we work
with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver
innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to
increasing access to health care through far-reaching policies,
programs and partnerships. For more information, visit
www.merck.com and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and
LinkedIn.
Media
Contact:
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(267)
305-6463
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SOURCE Merck