Most medical conditions don’t affect your sleep, but surprisingly, a high number of them do. If you’re dealing with one of the medical conditions affecting sleep, you’ll want to deal with it sooner rather than later.
Fortunately, we have some advice and help for you in this post. We run through some things you can do to prevent medical conditions from wrecking your ability to function and get the rest you need at night.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Get Aggressive With Treating The Root Cause of Medical Conditions Affecting Sleep
If you can, start by addressing the root cause of your symptoms directly. When you tackle what’s truly causing the problem, you give yourself a better chance of easing the symptoms and breaking free from the condition altogether.
This might sound far-fetched, but people do this all the time with chronic issues like arthritis or IBD. When the source of irritation or inflammation is removed or significantly reduced, the body has an impressive ability to heal. Eliminating what’s hurting it allows true recovery to begin and gives you a real chance of reclaiming your health.
Deal With The Mental Component
At the same time, you want to deal with the mental component. Things like PTSD, anxiety, and depression can all take their toll.
Ultimately, you want to feel calmer at night. If you can get your body into the “rest and digest state”, it can help you sleep longer. Many people only get a few hours of sleep because their bodies are constantly on edge, preventing them from getting the rest that would actually allow healing.
Seek Proper Treatment for Medical Conditions Affecting Sleep
Another thing you can do is seek treatment for the symptoms and issues that prevent you from sleeping. If you have ringing in the ears, it can be helpful to go for tinnitus treatment. Getting this problem handled as quickly as possible means better sleep long-term.
Address Restless Leg Issues
If restless legs are keeping you up at night, it’s important to address the problem. The more effectively you manage it, the easier it will be to fall asleep and stay asleep.
Start by looking at common triggers. Consider cutting down on things like caffeine, and look at any medications that could be causing the problem.
It’s also worth checking your iron levels because low ferritin is a known factor in restless leg syndrome, and some medications can deplete iron stores over time. Correcting these underlying issues can significantly improve nighttime comfort and sleep quality.
Combat Sleep Apnea
You might also be dealing with sleep apnea without even realizing it. This condition happens when the tissues in the throat or the weight of the chest restrict the airway, making it difficult for air to flow normally during sleep. When breathing is repeatedly disrupted like this, it becomes nearly impossible to get truly restful sleep.
Sleep apnea is important to address, not only because it affects your nightly rest but also because it can increase the risk of long-term health complications. Many people find relief with a CPAP machine, while others improve their symptoms by losing weight or following treatment recommended by a sleep specialist.
Control Acid Reflux
Finally, a surprisingly large number of people sleep poorly because of acid reflux. Even if symptoms seem mild during the day, reflux can get worse at night and make it harder to fall or stay asleep.
Improving your diet can make a huge difference. Reducing refined carbohydrates, oil, salt, and added sugar often helps, while increasing fiber supports better digestion and may lessen reflux episodes. These changes can positively impact both your reflux and your overall sleep quality.
Recap: Medical Conditions Affecting Sleep
Sleep improves dramatically when you address the issues working against you. By identifying and treating underlying problems, whether physical, dietary, or lifestyle-related, you give your body a better chance to rest, recover, and function at its best.
