NEW YORK — Most people wake up and say “good morning,” but it turns out many don’t actually feel that way. Thirty-nine percent of Americans will wake up and start their day with a headache, according to a new study.
A survey of 2,000 people finds nearly two-thirds (62%) say they get headaches often; suffering seven major headaches per month on average.
On average, people will wake up with some kind of ache or pain a dozen times every month. Ten percent of the poll report they wake up with aches and pains on a daily basis.
Some of the most common types of aches and pain to wake up with come from the back (64%), joints (47%), and overall stress (30%). Stress in particular has an interesting relationship with Americans. Three out of five (61%) say they will get stressed out without even knowing the cause or realizing it’s happening.
Commissioned by Premium Jane and conducted by OnePoll, the survey reveals 72 percent of people believe the past year played a major role in the stress they currently feel. More than four in five (83%) felt so stressed they lost a “significant” amount of sleep.
Almost everything stressed Americans out in 2020
It’s no surprise COVID-19 comes in as the most stress-inducing event of 2020 for 78 percent of respondents. However, being laid off or put on furlough (32%), political turmoil (29%), and panic-buying goods (28%) also top the list of major origins of stress.
Extreme weather patterns also added up to produce a lot of stress for half the poll. Hurricanes (14%), wildfires (14%), the recent polar vortex (12%), and earthquakes (10%) account for 49 percent of the stress and anxiety Americans felt in 2020.
“Recent data indicates a concerning rise in stress among Americans,” says Premium Jane’s Founder, Jeff Yauck, in a statement. “More concerning is the fact that these trends don’t seem to be easing any time soon.”
How is the country finding relief from their aches and pains?
Half of Americans (49%) said traditional medicines haven’t been able to single-handedly resolve feelings of stress, aches, and pains. Fifty-eight percent add it’s hard to find a product to help them. This has been enough cause for seven in 10 to become more open to trying natural alternatives. People have tried sleeping more (55%), drinking more water (48%), and getting a massage (47%).
Half the poll (51%) said they have even tried the cannabis ingredient CBD to seek relief. Four in five (81%) of those who have tried it said it had a tangible impact on their health. Of the 49 percent who said they’ve never tried CBD before, 56 percent are hesitant to try it due to misconceptions about what CBD does.
A third (35%) said they’re nervous about the effects it will have on their bodies. One in five question the legality of CBD and 17 percent don’t want to feel high.
“Many Americans are still having reservations about the tangible, real-life effects of CBD,” says Yauck. “Studies do exist that showcase CBD’s efficacy on everyday stresses and sornesses; the problem is finding authentic products that tend to work.”