Koronasomnia, or insomnia in the times of COVID-19. A new phenomenon is becoming more and more common

Proven content

Convalescent after COVID-19: I fought for every breath, it was hard to draw air into my lungs. That’s why I was afraid to fall asleep at night. I was just afraid of dying.

1. Another survivor says that for three weeks of her SARS-CoV-2 illness, she could only nap briefly.
2. Man is programmed to stay awake in the face of danger, explain the psychiatrists. They notice insomnia related to the COVID-19 pandemic in an increasing number of patients
3. Insomnia is influenced, among other things, by the disruption of the daily routine, i.e. the activities we are used to repeating approximately every 24 hours
4. The effects of insomnia include chronic fatigue syndrome and other mental problems: anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, specialists warn
5. More information can be found on the TvoiLokony home page

“Coronasomnia” – this may soon be the name of a new medical phenomenon that is associated with insomnia in the times of COVID-19. The term, first proposed by Christina Pierpaoli Parker, a psychologist specializing in behavioral sleep medicine at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, was created by combining two words: “coronavirus” and “insomnia.” The latter comes from Latin and means sleep rhythm disturbances.

A man in danger is on the alert

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), insomnia in previous years typically affected 10-14 percent of adult citizens. Experts predict that today, in times of the prevailing pandemic, there will be many more of them, because man is programmed to stay awake in the face of danger.

“When we perceive a threat, we do not sleep” – said prof. Jennifer Martin from the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California.

However, as the threat persists in the global pandemic longer, a lack of sleep takes a toll on human health.

To improve the quality of sleep, try also Harmonix 500 ml – 100%. a natural dietary supplement based on extracts of 10 herbs and chokeberry juice. In addition to insomnia, when used regularly, it combats stress, digestive problems and regulates blood pressure.

1. Seven ways to fight insomnia

Fear of suffocation

Another problem is insomnia in the course of COVID-19. Although such studies have not yet been conducted in Poland, many convalescents mention that sleep problems were accompanied by symptoms that are typical of the coronavirus: fever, shortness of breath, headache, muscle and joint pain.

A resident of Tarnowskie Góry has contracted COVID-19 twice.

– I fought for every breath, it was hard for me to draw air into my lungs. That’s why I was afraid to fall asleep at night. I was simply afraid that I would die – says the woman.

Another convalescent woman from Wrocław, whom we wrote about at the end of October, also says that for three weeks of her illness caused by SARS-CoV-2, she almost never got a sleepy eye.

– I don’t know if it was caused by the fear of such an attack of breathlessness that would kill me in my sleep, or if my insomnia was rather a symptom of the disease. The fact is that in my case only short naps were possible, she recalls.

1. «COVID-19 is not just some flu. If I walked it lightly, what is the hard mileage like? »

Disruption of routine

Many factors contribute to insomnia in a pandemic. One of them is the disruption of the daily routine, i.e. the activities we are used to repeating approximately every 24 hours.

This routine is also regulated by external conditions, such as sunrise and sunset.

The loss of repetition caused by lockdown and remote work causes a feeling of confusion and anxiety. Also due to the fact that our contact with the natural light changes, which disrupts the daily cycle, and thus – the sleep schedule.

Insomnia is also fostered by being constantly surrounded by artificial light from computer screens and other electronic devices, and during an epidemic for many people they are the basic tools of work and study.

What is the effect of this? The blue light emitted by the screens tells the brain to stop producing melatonin, the hormone that regulates the sleep cycle.

1. Melatonin: lowers the risk of coronavirus infection, alleviates the course of the disease

Lockdown and remote work, and sleep

– Exposure to light interferes with the secretion of melatonin, and this hormone promotes sleep. However, it only secretes into the body when it is dark. When light pollution occurs around a person, problems arise with the production of another hormone, cortisol. And many other hormones that are responsible for the cardiovascular system. And the consequence may be arterial hypertension, which in the future may result in a stroke or heart attack. In addition, constant exposure to artificial light promotes weight gain – explains Dr. Helena Martynowicz, who specializes in sleep disorders.

People who stay in an excessively blue light environment increase the risk of developing breast, intestine and prostate cancer.

– The effects on people living in conditions of constant artificial light are enormous, even difficult to predict. The only way is to completely darken the apartment during the night – adds Dr. Martynowicz.

1. Thousands of convalescents suffer from “brain fog”. What is this?

Covid existential fears

Prof. Janusz Heitzman, psychiatrist, director of the Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, emphasizes that as a result of the pandemic, we operate in new patterns of work and fulfillment of duties.

– We think: ‘I’m not going to work, so I can do a lot more’. It usually ends with us lying in bed all day with the laptop on our lap. It’s neither sleep, nor rest, nor work. We take naps during the day. The consequence of this is sleep disturbance at night. This, in turn, causes the build-up of chronic fatigue, explains the psychiatrist.

And then there is also an existential fear, we begin to be haunted by the question: “What if I get sick?”. We are accompanied by a race of thoughts caused by financial worries, anxiety about employment, fear of COVID-19 infection and the disease of our loved ones. In addition to chronic fatigue syndrome, other psychological problems may arise as a result of sleep disturbances – anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Before going to bed, turn off the TV, do not stare at the smartphone

French scientists, commissioned by L’Agence Nationale de la Recherche – the National Research Agency – observed the influence of the media on the sense of anxiety. 68 percent of respondents agreed that the media image of COVID-19 is terrifying. So they concluded that there was a strong link between sleep problems and media exposure. They are the greater the later in the day when they are used and the media tracking at night deepens the psychological anxiety. Experts therefore advise you to dose the amount of information, not to keep track of it for days and try to return to your regular schedule and circadian rhythm.

If your attempts to fall asleep do not work for a quarter or two, it is a good idea to get out of bed, because forcing yourself to fall asleep causes unnecessary frustration. It is worth switching off the TV, computer and telephone two hours before the planned going to bed. This will allow you to rest from blue light that is unfavorable for the eyes and brain. Regular physical activity is also recommended as it contributes to “healthy” fatigue.

Read also:

1. Physical proximity is the best weapon against stress. But Poles have a problem with desire
2. WHO advises what exercises we need in a pandemic
3. Doctor working with COVID-19 patients: it breaks the heart