Science & Medicine: Sleep disorders in the military are complex, common, and treatable
Texas Public Radio
Jan 04, 2026
UT Health San Antonio Director of Sleep Medicine and STRONG STAR investigator Vincent Mysliwiec, MD, FAASM, speaks with Texas Public Radio’s Bonnie Petrie in a recent episode of the “Petrie Dish” to discuss sleep disorders in the military. He says that with the rigorous demands of military life, service members often sleep fewer than six hours a night. Beyond that, disordered sleep has skyrocketed in the military since 2005, with a 45-fold increase in insomnia and 30-fold increase in obstructive sleep apnea. The most common sleep disorder now in both military men and women is the comorbidity of these two conditions, called COMISA. For military readiness and good quality of life, Dr. Mysliwiec says it’s important for those with sleep problems to get a comprehensive evaluation, proper diagnosis and treatment to prevent the cascade of potential physical and psychological health problems that can increase with disordered sleep.