The $136 Billion Sleep Industry Is Shifting. Here Are 5 Trends Leaders Should Watch For

Sleep expert Dr. Michael Breus predicts five major trends in sleep health.

EXPERT OPINION BY DIANA KELLY LEVEY

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Blue light glasses have been trending for years. It is well known that doomscrolling before bed isn’t healthy. You’ve probably also heard about using mouth tape to stop snoring. If you want to know what’s coming next for the sleep aids market — that’s expected to reach $136 billion by 2030 —  this trend prediction guide from board-certified clinical psychologist and clinical sleep specialist Michael Breus, PhD, will help you stay in the know. 

In honor of Sleep Awareness Month this March, below are five predictions for the sleep market. These predictions could make a significant impact on sleep disorder diagnoses, treatment options, and sleep improvements without prescriptions and medical devices. 

1. Sleep tests will start using female-based criteria to diagnose sleep apnea. 

According to Dr. Breus, women have a different set of symptoms when it comes to diagnosing sleep apnea.  

“Historically, we are using male-generated criteria [for a diagnosis] that measures a particular number, meaning the number of times that a person stops breathing in their sleep—called their Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI),” he said. 

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A lot of women may have sleep apnea, but they may not have a high AHI. A woman’s sleep apnea symptoms may include waking up with a headache in the morning or having sleep quality issues.  

“Companies are now developing new sleep testing equipment in the lab and for home sleep tests (HSTs) that are specific for women, which I applaud,” Dr. Breus added. “That is a ripe area that a lot of people don’t know about.”  

According to Dr. Breus, over the next six months to a year, you’re going to see new devices that come out, as well as those created with new criteria for diagnosing women. 

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