Sleep and COVID-19: How to Sleep Better as the Pandemic Continues
Looking for solutions on how to sleep better?
You’re not alone.
For many people, sleep and COVID-19 make an unlikely combination as the global rates of pandemic-related insomnia spike. Studies have found that sleeping disorders have increased from 2.3% to 76.6%, depending on demographic factors and location.
COVID-19 has affected sleep in several different ways. Working from home, caring for children around-the-clock and self-quarantining have changed the way we live. For some, new routines provide a limited sense of structure, causing circadian rhythms (aka the sleep-wake cycle) to work on overdrive.
Plus, there is anxiety.
Let’s take a closer look at the situation.
Sleep and COVID-19: How is it Affecting Our Sleep?
Preliminary studies ‘’reveal very high rates of clinically significant insomnia” accompanied by other mental health problems (i.e. anxiety, stress, and depression). Whether you worry about contracting the virus itself, or perhaps the financial insecurity caused by the pandemic, anxious thoughts can haunt you at night.
In addition, a more sedentary lifestyle can also become a problem that decreases your ability to sleep well at night. Many people are spending more extended time in front of computer, television, and mobile device screens as we’ve switched to work from home environments. We are also spending more time inside our homes as part of social distancing efforts. As a result, many of us can’t fall asleep or stay asleep at night.
Lack of sleep can have a ripple effect on our bodies as we deal with depression, brain fog, high blood pressure, and increased risk of cardiovascular problems.
How to Sleep Better
Until vaccines are fully deployed, uncertainties surrounding COVID-19 are not likely to go away. Adopting better sleeping habits and a healthier lifestyle can have a positive impact.
Here are a few tips for falling asleep naturally:
● Consider making an hour before bedtime a digital-free time period to prevent blue-light emission from keeping you awake.
● Practice mindful meditation to keep coronavirus anxiety and other worries at bay.
● Maintain a proper sleeping schedule to regulate your sleep cycle.
● Exercise your way to sleep to maintain physical and mental fitness.
● Avoid eating acidic foods, sweet treats, and caffeinated drinks at night.
● Bask in the morning sunlight to increase your Vitamin D intake.
If you don’t see a significant change in your sleep pattern, consider consulting a sleep specialist.
In a Nutshell
While dealing with COVID-19 might be a novel situation, insomnia isn’t. Remember, the pandemic will pass, but losing sleep over it can cause irreversible health problems. Learn how to sleep better to live better!
If you suspect you are one of the millions of Americans coping with a sleep disorder, don’t try to treat it yourself or try to wait it out. Doing so can cause or worsen long-term health problems. At FusionSleep®, we have dedicated our entire medical practice to helping patients get their lives back through healthy sleep. We offer various sleep solutions, along with in-lab and at-home sleep testing options and virtual appointments on our established telemedicine platform. Contact us today on our website or by calling 678.990.3962.