Healthline 2023<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sleep disorders such as insomnia are commonplace. However, the number of people reporting sleep quality issues has grown significantly since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Insomnia can be short-lived or chronic. It also affects people differently. Some symptoms of insomnia are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re wondering if COVID-19 can cause insomnia, read on. In this article, we\u2019ll discuss the theories and data behind the increase in sleep disorders and their possible link to COVID-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s not your imagination. The bleary-eyed faces greeting you on Zoom or in person are a tell-tale sign that many people aren\u2019t sleeping well these days. You may be wondering, is insomnia<\/a> a symptom of COVID?<\/p>\n\n\n\n A\u00a02022 meta-analysis<\/a>\u00a0looked at data from almost half a million people across 49 countries during the pandemic. Researchers found that about 37% had\u00a0sleep problems<\/a>. That figure was higher for people with COVID-19 infection compared to people without infection \u2014 more than 52%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sleep problems were most likely in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The study also cited insomnia as the most common sleep problem. It accounted for\u00a080%<\/a>\u00a0of sleep problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While COVID-19 and sleep disorders<\/a> often go together, experts are still trying to figure out what links them. Possible causes and connections include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Worry and anxiety<\/a> certainly seem to play a role in rising insomnia rates. Concerns about getting sick, or of a loved one getting sick, have become constant for many people. Worries about finances, employment, and other pandemic-related issues have also been widespread.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A\u00a02022 study<\/a>\u00a0found that worrying about COVID was a predictor of insomnia. Exposure to COVID-19 risk factors did not seem to cause insomnia, but worrying about exposure led to poorer sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the World Health Organization, stress and anxiety levels skyrocketed by\u00a025%<\/a>\u00a0during the first year of the pandemic. Anxiety can disrupt sleep patterns. So, it\u2019s not surprising that insomnia has increased along with escalating stress levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sticking to a solid sleep routine<\/a> is a good way to improve sleep quality. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the day-to-day routines of many, if not most, people. Working from home, having children home from school, or losing a job are disruptors that can skew sleep habits, causing insomnia and poor sleep quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to\u00a02021 research<\/a>, routines help us keep our sleep-wake rhythms in sync with day-night cycles. When the pandemic disrupted our routines, it affected our sleep as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For some people, a side effect of routine disruption is isolation. This can add to the emotional distress caused by COVID-19 and make sleep pattern problems even worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A\u00a02022 review<\/a>\u00a0also suggests that the\u00a0symptoms of COVID-19<\/a>\u00a0may disrupt your sleep. If you have the virus, you may feel exhausted, feverish, and sick. If you have a stuffy nose and are constantly coughing, you may have\u00a0trouble sleeping<\/a>\u00a0or resting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Spending the entire day in bed while sick can make it harder to fall asleep and wake up at the appropriate times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Long COVID<\/a>\u00a0is also called post-COVID syndrome, long hauler COVID, and other names. This is when you have new, returning, or ongoing symptoms for weeks, months, or years after recovering from COVID. According to the\u00a0Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)<\/a>, sleep problems are a neurological symptom of long COVID, along with issues such as\u00a0brain fog<\/a>\u00a0and fatigue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2022 study<\/a> looked at how often a group of people with long COVID had disturbed sleep. Researchers found that over 40% of study participants had moderate to severe sleep disturbance issues. A prior history of anxiety disorders increased their risk for insomnia. Black people and people having obesity also were more at risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s not clear what causes long COVID or why insomnia is a common symptom. One theory is that the inflammatory and immune responses caused by COVID-19 infection can alter your circadian rhythm<\/a>. That\u2019s your sleep-wake pattern for each 24-hour day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A\u00a02022 study<\/a>\u00a0of 314 adults with long COVID found that a significant percentage of study participants had difficulty falling asleep and waking up at their usual times. This insomnia pattern suggests delayed sleep-wake phase disorder, a type of\u00a0circadian rhythm sleep disorder<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to two large studies (1Source<\/a>, 2Source<\/a>), about half of people with COVID experience insomnia as a symptom. Around one in three<\/a> people with long COVID also report this symptom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019ve spent countless nights staring at the ceiling, you\u2019re probably wondering how long this may last. There isn\u2019t enough data yet to determine the potential duration of sleep issues<\/a> related to COVID.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Acute (short-lived) insomnia can last for several weeks. Chronic (long lasting) insomnia may last for many months or longer. Insomnia may also come and go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n People with COVID-19 infections and long COVID have reported experiencing insomnia for widely varying amounts of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Insomnia, circadian rhythm disorder, and other sleep issues have become so prevalent that people have coined the term \u201ccoronasomnia<\/a>\u201d to categorize them. Coronasomnia loosely refers to symptoms such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can have all the symptoms of coronasomnia without ever having COVID. Living through these challenging times can disrupt not only sleep but also quality of life. Data indicate that around 20% of people have had insomnia due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Frontline workers, particularly those dealing with COVID patients, have been found to have higher than average rates of coronasomnia. People under stress of any type, including parents, teachers, and caregivers, are also at risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s important to remember that researchers haven\u2019t yet proved a link between COVID infection and sleep disorders. But that doesn\u2019t mean there isn\u2019t one. It simply means that we don\u2019t yet know of a mechanism that causes one to lead to the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Insomnia and other sleep disorders may be due to COVID-19. They may also be due to pandemic life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Narcolepsy<\/a> is a rare neurological condition that causes poor nighttime sleep, daytime drowsiness, and hard-to-resist \u201csleep attacks\u201d during the day. Scientists identified an increased risk for narcolepsy in people who received the Pandemrix H1N1 vaccineTrusted Source<\/a> in European countries from 2009-2010. The vaccine was never licensed for use in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One case study<\/a> suggests that the Chinese-developed CoronaVac vaccine may have triggered narcolepsy symptoms in a person already prone to hypersomnia<\/a> with infection. The CoronaVac vaccine is not available nor approved for use in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The CDC does not list narcolepsy as an adverse reaction to COVID-19 vaccines. There is no evidence to suggest that any of the vaccines approved for use in the United States is linked to narcolepsy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n LEARN MORE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have symptoms of acute insomnia, these tips may help alleviate it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n You may also consider discussing with a doctor if there are any medications or supplements, like melatonin<\/a>, that could help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have chronic insomnia<\/a>, you may need the input of a healthcare professional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A therapist may be able to guide you through cognitive behavioral therapy<\/a> techniques that can help you sleep effectively. Talk therapy<\/a> may be beneficial for working out emotional issues that might be causing insomnia. A medical doctor may prescribe medications<\/a> that can help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n COVID-19 and long COVID may cause or worsen sleep disorders, such as insomnia. Researchers don\u2019t yet fully understand how or why this happens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dealing with pandemic life and ongoing fears about the virus can also cause emotional distress, which can negatively affect sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n More research is needed into the many ways COVID may hurt sleep quality. Until then, there are healthy habits you can incorporate, or medications or supplements you can take that can help. You can also reduce your risk, and possibly ease your mind, by keeping up with your vaccinations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Healthline 2023 Sleep disorders such as insomnia are commonplace. However, the number of people reporting sleep quality issues has grown significantly since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. 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Stress and worry<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Routine disruption<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
COVID-19 symptoms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Long COVID<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How common is insomnia as a symptom of COVID?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How long does insomnia from COVID-19 last?<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Can COVID-19 cause other sleep disorders?<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Can the COVID-19 vaccine cause narcolepsy?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What can I do if I have trouble sleeping after COVID-19?<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Takeaway<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n