Sleep Disorders: Sleep and Chronic Illness from WebMD

WebMD Medical Reference in collaboration with

Get the Facts About Sleep

Sleep Disorders

Causes and Prevention

Making the Diagnosis

Treatments

Special Populations

Sleep and Pregnancy Sleep and Aging Sleep and Menopause Sleep and Depression Sleep and Chronic Illness Sleep Problems in Kids

Living With a Sleep Disorder

Toolbox

Sleep Disorders Bookshelf

A chronic illness is an illness that lasts for a long time and usually cannot be cured. Examples include diabetes, arthritis, HIV/AIDS, lupus, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis. Although these diseases can't be cured, they can often be controlled.

The pain and fatigue that people with chronic illness experience have a large impact on their daily lives, including sleep. Because of their illness, these patients often have trouble sleeping at night, and are sleepy during the day. This is especially the case for people who have neurological (nervous system) diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Insomnia can make the person's pain and quality of life worse. In addition, some drugs used to treat chronic illnesses can cause sleep problems.

People who have a chronic illness may also suffer from depression, which can affect their sleep.

Learn about sleep and depression.

The first step is to try to control the pain associated with the illness. Once pain is controlled, sleeping may not be a problem. Your doctor can prescribe the appropriate pain relieving medication that suits your condition.

If following adequate pain control, you are still experiencing problems with sleep, these simple steps may help.

• Keep noise in the room and surrounding area down as much as possible.
• Sleep in a dark room.
• Keep the room temperature as comfortable as possible.
• Eat or drink foods that induce sleep, such as warm milk.
• Avoid naps during the day.
• Avoid foods that contain caffeine.

There are a number of other non-medicinal approaches that are effective for sleep, including biofeedback, relaxation training, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and sleep restriction techniques. These therapies are most often administered by a psychologist who specializes in sleep disorders.

Learn about behavioral treatments for insomnia.

If these methods are not effective, there are several prescription medications to help people sleep. These agents include Ambien and Sonata as well as benzodiazepines such as Restoril, antidepressants, antihistamines, and antipsychotics. For patients who have chronic pain and depression, insomnia may best be treated with tricyclic antidepressants.

Learn about medications used to treat insomnia.

It's usually a good idea to try non-drug pain-reducing methods before turning to sleep medications. When medications are prescribed, it's best to use them for a short time only (less than two weeks). If they are used for longer periods, sleep medications may cause tolerance and psychological dependence.

Talk to your doctor to find the best sleep solution for you.

Find a sleep specialist.
Get tips on how to get a good night's sleep.
View the full table of contents for the Sleep Disorders Guide.

Reviewed by a doctor in the Department of Psychiatry and Psychology at The Cleveland Clinic.

Edited by Cynthia Haines, MD, WebMD, December 2005.

SOURCE: The National Sleep Foundation.