Can COVID Cause Insomnia?

The COVID pandemic has found a way to wreak havoc on the world in just about every way. Not to mention the astronomical impact it has had on human health, both physical and mental. One of the most prominent issues COVID has caused, besides mortal sickness, is problems with sleep.

But is insomnia a symptom of COVID-19? The answer to this is a little complicated. While insomnia isn’t a common symptom of COVID, the indirect effects of COVID, like day-to-day monotony and lack of routine, can facilitate insomnia.

How are COVID-19 and Insomnia Related?

The research found that 2020 saw an increase Trusted Source U.S. trends in medication use for depression, anxiety and insomnia Mental health conditions disrupt thinking, mood and behavior. From mild stress
to psychiatric illness such as depression, anxiety and insomnia, these disorders
can be a great source of distress for people experiencing symptoms, and for
those close to them. corporate-site-labs-prod.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com in the prescription of sleep medications by 14.8 percent. While the Center for Disease Control (CDC) doesn’t consider insomnia a common side effect of COVID-19, they say insomnia is common due to pandemic-related stress. As a matter of fact, insomnia many have experienced during the pandemic has been aptly deemed “coronasomnia.”

Coronasomnia is caused by a number of triggers: financial stress, emotional stress, distance from others, unpredictability, and professional concerns. Studies show that prior to 2020, approximately 24 percent of the population suffered from sleep issues. However, the pandemic saw an increase of that number up to 40 percent.

Those who are most likely to develop this unique sleep issue include COVID patients, emergency personnel, unpaid caregivers, women, and people of color. This makes sense as they have added responsibilities with little to no support.

For example, women are more likely to develop this issue because the pandemic has seen a trend in women leaving the workforce to stay home and care for their families. This ties into unpaid caregiving being another vulnerable group.

People of color Trusted Source Coronavirus in African Americans and Other People of Color | Johns Hopkins Medicine People of color are getting sick and dying of COVID-19 more than whites. A health care equity expert offers facts and recommendations. www.hopkinsmedicine.org (POC) are also more vulnerable to coronasomnia because they not only have to handle what the rest of the population is handling, but they also have systemic issues to worry about too. POC get sick with coronavirus more often than white people for a variety of reasons:

• Crowded housing conditions: Due to implicit racial segregation, black people and other POC are more likely to live in crowded projects where they’re put more at risk for developing the illness.
• Working low-paid jobs in essential fields: Jobs like hospital clerking, food service, home healthcare, and transportation services put workers within close contact with others.
• Inconsistent access to healthcare: Dealing with not having insurance or being underinsured is a common problem among POC. When you can’t afford doctor visits or medication, you’re more at risk of developing severe side effects from COVID-19.
• Chronic health issues: Diabetes, heart disease, and lung disease are far more common among POC than their counterparts. A CDC study found that roughly 90 percent of those hospitalized with severe COVID-19 had one of these conditions too.

How to Tackle Insomnia?

If you suspect you’re struggling with insomnia Trusted Source Insomnia - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic Changing your sleep habits and addressing any issues that may be associated with insomnia, such as stress, medical conditions or medications, can restore restful sleep for many people. www.mayoclinic.org or other sleep issues, there are several things you can do to combat it. If you’re only dealing with occasional sleep troubles, insomnia probably isn’t the answer, but if symptoms persist for a few weeks, you should get your doctor to intervene.

Before consulting your doctor, here are a few things you could try:

• Keep a consistent sleep routine. Sticking to the same routine will help your body’s internal clock stay calibrated. If you expect to sleep at a certain time each night, your body will react to that feeling over time by making you feel tired when necessary.
• Get plenty of exercise throughout the day. Not only will regular exercise help with good sleep habits, but your overall health will benefit too. However, make sure your physical activity of choice is done a few hours before bedtime, as doing so too close to bed could have the opposite effect.
• Limit caffeine and alcohol too close to bedtime. Unless you have a disorder like ADHD, caffeine, and alcohol should be avoided close to bedtime. In neurotypical people, caffeine and alcohol stunt the release of melatonin, making it harder to fall asleep.
• Manage pain to promote comfort. If you deal with chronic pain, managing it is important, so you don’t affect your sleep negatively. Whether this is done via medication or a more holistic approach, comfort is key in getting good sleep.

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