Could Your Chronic Condition Be Causing Your Insomnia? Find Out Here

Sleep is one of our body's strongest healing mechanisms, but for individuals with chronic disease, restful sleep is a far fetched dream. Insomnia is nothing but facing trouble falling asleep, maintaining sleep, or awakening too early. Although, many people claim that they have this, it’s mostly more prevalent among those who have ongoing health conditions. 

Hence, In an exclusive interaction with the editorial team of Onlymyhealth, our expert, Dr Bhumesh Tyagi, General Physician and Internal Medicine Specialist, Shardacare, Health City - Noida,  to see how various chronic diseases impact sleep, why it's important to break this connection, and how you can enhance your sleep. Read ahead to find out everything.

How Chronic Diseases Interfere with Sleep

There are several ways chronic diseases interfere with sleep. These may include:

1. Chronic Pain Syndromes (Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Back Pain)

Pain makes it difficult to settle into a restful sleeping position and can initiate repeated nighttime awakenings. Poor sleep, on the other hand, reduces pain tolerance, and a vicious cycle ensues.

2. Cardiovascular Disease and Hypertension

Sleep disorders are common with heart diseases and high blood pressure. Sleep may be disrupted at night due to nighttime pain or breathlessness associated with angina or arrhythmias.

Also Read: 7 Things To Know and Control If Diabetes Runs In Your Family

3. Respiratory Disorders (Asthma, COPD, Sleep Apnea)

Coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath can disrupt deep sleep. Sleep apnea, in particular, is a long-term condition that overtly causes insomnia-like symptoms because breathing stops and starts repeatedly.

4. Diabetes

Unstable blood sugar levels may lead to nighttime urination (nocturia), restlessness, or even neuropathic pain, all of which complicate uninterrupted sleep.

5. Gastrointestinal Disorders (GERD, IBS)

Acid reflux worsens when one lies down and frequently awakens individuals with burning pain. IBS can also lead to nocturnal abdominal pain or cramping.

6. Neurological Disorders (Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Epilepsy)

These health conditions disrupt brain chemistry and muscle function, causing restless legs, spasms, or nighttime seizures that interrupt sleep.

7. Mental Health Conditions (Depression, Anxiety, PTSD)

These are both chronic and closely interlinked with insomnia. Concern, racing thoughts, or nightmares can keep the brain in "alert mode" while it should be shutting down.

“Sleep deprivation is not only annoying, it has serious ramifications. Bad sleep exacerbates immunity, retards recovery, heightens sensitivity to pain, and renders chronic illnesses more difficult to treat,” highlighted Dr Tyagi. Research indicates that insomnia can even boost the risk of new chronic illness development, forming a two-way causal relationship between disease and poor sleep.

Steps to Manage Insomnia with a Chronic Condition

The good news is that Dr Tyagi also comes bearing remedies to help fix this. Such as:

• Address the Root Cause: Treating the underlying cause, be it through medication, therapy, or alterations in lifestyle, can enhance sleep quality.
• Pain and Symptom Management: Utilise physician-recommended measures like pain medications, relaxation techniques, or breathing exercises to minimize nighttime distress.
• Sleep Hygiene Practices: Stick to a standard sleeping schedule, avoid screens before bedtime, and prepare a relaxing sleeping environment.
• Mind-Body Therapies: Practices like yoga, meditation, or progressive muscle relaxation can calm the nervous system and improve sleep.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I): This is the gold-standard, non-drug treatment for chronic insomnia and is effective even in people with long-term conditions.
• Consult Your Doctor: Sometimes, medication adjustments or a referral to a sleep specialist can make all the difference.

Bottomline

If you have a chronic illness and experience insomnia, you're not alone, and it's not "all in your head." Your sleep and your disease go hand in hand, and the more you work to heal one, the better the other may become. With the help of healthcare professionals and supportive lifestyle adjustments, you can end the cycle of wakeful nights and head toward improved health and energy.