The stress that chronic illness puts on the body can result in insomnia, sleep deprivation and daytime drowsiness. It is imperative that you understand whether your insomnia is habit-based or medically based.
For habit based insomnia please refer to our other articles in the sleep section that provide both guidance and actionable tips.
Use this resource to determine if you have medically based insomnia.
A multitude of medical conditions can lead to insomnia. These include but are not limited to the following:
- Diabetes – Low Blood Sugars, Frequent urination, neuropathic pain
- Cardiovascular disease – Frequent urination, chest pain, inability to lie down
- Kidney disease – Frequent urination
- Respiratory problems – Night cough, shortness of breath, inability to lie flat
- Heartburn – Pain, nausea
- Dementia – Confusion at night, disturbance of biorhythms
- Epilepsy – Medication effects, seizures
- Schizophrenia – hallucinations, medication side effects, disturbed biorhythms
- Depression – Medication side effects, over sleeping during the day, decreased activity levels
- Anxiety disorder – Racing thoughts, nervousness at bed time, night waking with fear or panic
- Taking mediations that adversely affect sleep
- Fibromyalgia and other chronic pain
Next Steps
If you are seeing your medical care provider for a chronic condition, such as those above, and are experiencing sleep disturbance, be sure to discuss your sleep quality with them as part of your ongoing care plan.
Use the 3 questions below to start the conversation with your physician
- How does my sleep quality affect my chronic condition?
- Is there anything about my condition that impacts my sleep?
- Do I need medication to help me sleep?
