Does COVID Give You Insomnia?
Isaac Nunoofio
Writer for hire| Content writer| SEO writer|Ghostwriter|Content marketer|Digital marketer|Sales copywriter |Conversion writer|AI prompt writer| Offer other services as well| DM me for email
Insomnia is a common problem many are grappling with. The problem has become worse since the COVID-19 pandemic started.
If you are asking, “Does COVID give you insomnia?” continue reading.
This article summarizes some of the findings that have emerged from research into a link between COVID-19 and insomnia, and science-backed tips to help you sleep if you have COVID-19-related insomnia.
Does COVID Give You Insomnia?
Some evidence suggests COVID can give one insomnia.
According to a systematic review and meta-analysis of 98 studies that looked at the data of 193,889 participants, almost 40% of people with COVID-19 experienced insomnia in the early and late stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in China (1 ).??
Another study, a meta-analysis of 250 studies, analyzed the data of 493,475 COVID-19 patients from 49 countries between November 1, 2019, and July 15, 2021. Six major populations were studied, including patients infected with COVID-19 (2 ).
The study found that about 52.39% of the COVID-19 patients had sleep problems. Additionally, the study revealed that COVID-19 patients suffer more insomnia than people in the general population (48.7% vs. 26.0%) (2 ).
Even though the data and studies suggest COVID may give patients insomnia, scientists are yet to establish whether COVID-19 directly causes insomnia. That also does not mean that COVID does not give insomnia. Scientists just don’t yet know the cause-effect relationship. Research is still ongoing to try and establish the link.?
However, even before that link is established, some theories have been proposed to explain the possible mechanism of action.
?
Two Theories Of How The Coronavirus May Cause Insomnia
?
The First Theory
A review that was published in the journal Clinical and Experimental Neuroimmunology in 2021 stated that some research has linked how the immune system of people who suffer “long-COVID” (or COVID symptoms that persist more than four weeks) with brain inflammation (also known as encephalitis). The brain inflammation may affect the processes in the body that make it easy for someone to sleep (3 ).
?
The Second Theory
This theory suggests that the coronavirus may disrupt the brain and muscle ARNT-like protein-1 (Bmal1), a gene that regulates and controls the circadian rhythm, a rhythm that controls the sleep-wake cycle (4 ).
?
How To Sleep When You Have COVID
So what can you do to help you get a good night’s sleep if you are suffering from insomnia because of COVID-19? ?Here are some science-backed tips that can help you.
?
Sleep In The Prone Position If You Have Breathing Difficulties
Sleeping in the prone position (also known as prone positioning) has been shown in the past to help patients suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) who are on ventilators, breathe easier. ?
According to one review that was published in the journal Clinical Medicine in 2020, sleeping in the prone position improves ventilation in the back and the lungs, allows for a more homogenous breathing pattern, and allows the efficient drainage of secretions from the lungs (5 ).
And according to the UK National Health Service, sleeping in the prone position will prevent your heart and stomach from pressing down on your lungs. Consequently, your lungs will be able to get sufficient oxygen. They give tips on how to sleep on your stomach and you may check it out (6 ). When you can breathe comfortably and you are comfortable, you will find it easier to sleep.
?
领英推荐
Place A Flat Pillow Under Your Stomach And Pelvis If You Sleep In The Prone Position
According to the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC), when one sleeps in the prone position, his spine can shift out of position. However, the URMC says if you sleep on your stomach, it’s a good idea to use a flat pillow when sleeping. They recommend that you place it under your stomach and your pelvic region. This will help the spine to maintain its normal, natural curve (7 ). ??
?
Sleep On An Orthopedic Pillow
A comparative study done in 2014 which compared a feather pillow, a memory foam pillow, and an orthopedic pillow, revealed an orthopedic pillow can help you sleep better, and healthier, than the other two. It supports the natural curve of your neck better, and can also give you the best comfort (which are two of the conditions for good, healthy sleep, according to the University of Rochester Medical Center), as well as help you sleep at the right temperature, which is important for healthy sleep (8 ). ??
?
Sleep On A Medium-Firm Mattress
If you have COVID-19 and are experiencing low back pain and stiffness, consider sleeping on a medium-firm mattress. According to one study sleeping on medium-firm mattresses manufactured with foam and latex can help you get quality, comfortable sleep. The study suggests this kind of mattress can improve the back pain and stiffness (9 ).
??
Sources
?1. Li Y, et al. (2021). ?Insomnia symptoms during the early and late stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in China: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8782754/
?2. Jahrami HA, et al. (2022). Sleep disturbances during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression.??
3. Shimohata T. (2021). Neuro-COVID-19.
4. Sehirli AO, et al. (2021). The circadian clock gene Bmal1: Role in COVID-19 and periodontitis.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07420528.2021.1895198?journalCode=icbi20
5. Pooni RS. (2020). Research in brief: Prone positioning in COVID-19: What's the evidence.??
?https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7385781/
6. Coronavirus (COVID-19). How Lying On Your Front Can Help Get More Oxygen Into Your Body. (2020 April 29)
https://www.wsh.nhs.uk/CMS-Documents/Patient-leaflets/Coronavirus/6628-1-Coronavirus-how-lying-on-your-front-to-can-help-get-more-oxygen-into-your-body.pdf
7. Good sleeping posture helps your back. (n.d.). https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=4460
8. Jeon MY, et al. (2014). Improving the quality of sleep with an optimal pillow: a randomized, comparative study.??
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25008402/
9. Jacobson BH, et al. (2010).?Effect of prescribed sleep surfaces on back pain and sleep quality in patients diagnosed with low back and shoulder pain.