How Illnesses and Medical Disorders Can Affect Sleep

Sometimes, illnesses and medical disorders can affect sleep patterns. This is because sleep disturbances occur in a large part because of medical illnesses and adverse forms of therapy. Conditions like kidney disease, neurological disorders, thyroid disease, cardiovascular disease, heartburn, diabetes, eating disorders, etc. can affect sleep and cause major problems. This article will tell you how illnesses and medical disorders can affect sleep patterns.
Heartburn, which is caused by stomach acid in the esophagus, can be worsened by lying down. This leads to discomfort when you sleep. You can avoid heartburn and thus a choppy sleep pattern by avoiding rich fatty foods, coffee and alcohol in the evening. If you do feel sick, stay upright and give yourself time to feel better.
Diabetes, too, affects sleep in a negative way. It may cause night sweats, an urge to urinate, and cause a person to wake up. Cardiovascular disease, too, plays a major role in affecting sleep patterns. For instance, a person with congestive heart failure might awaken in the middle of the night feeling short of breath. This is because when they’re lying down, extra fluid tends to accumulate in the area around their lungs. This can be avoided by having pillows to elevate the upper body.
People with arthritis, too, find it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night. Sometimes, aspirin helps, or even a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) just before midnight. This relieves the pain and the swelling in the joints.
Eating disorders, like anorexia, cause more Stage I sleep and less slow-wave sleep. This is why it is essential to maintain a healthy wealth, and eat properly, and take regular exercise. Kidney disease, too, causes the buildup of waste products in the blood, and causes restless sleep.