Sleeping well is important for your physical and mental health. A good night's sleep not only helps you think positively, it also lowers your blood pressure, increases your appetite, and strengthens your immune system.
Sleep problems such as falling asleep and/or staying asleep, also called insomnia, are common among people undergoing cancer treatment. It is common. Studies show that half of all patients have problems with sleep. These problems may result from side effects of cancer treatment, other medications used with this treatment, long-term hospitalization, or stress.
If you have difficulty sleeping, try to get the help you need by talking to your doctor or healthcare team. Long-standing sleep problems can increase the risk of anxiety or depression. Your doctor may perform an evaluation called a polysomnogram (recordings taken during sleep that show brain waves, breathing rate, and other activities such as heart rate) to properly diagnose and treat sleep problems. Since sleep problems may change over time, evaluations may be repeated from time to time.
Ways to Manage Sleep Problems
We can list some strategies that can help you sleep well again:
<Inform your doctor about the physical problems that cause you to fall asleep or stay insomnia: Receiving treatment for side effects such as pain in any part of the body, bladder or gastrointestinal problems due to the disease, It may help you sleep better.
Cognitive behavioral therapy and relaxation exercises may help: Using these treatments may help you relax. For example, a psychotherapist/psychiatrist can help you learn to change negative thoughts and negative thoughts or beliefs about sleep into positive ones. Strategies such as muscle relaxation exercises and self-hypnosis may also help you.
Regulate your bedtime habit: Only go to bed when you are sleepy. Make sure your bed is as quiet, dark and comfortable as possible. If you cannot fall asleep, get out of bed and try to sleep. Go back to bed when you can. Stop watching television or using other electronic devices (phone, tablet, etc.) a few hours before bed. Don't drink too much or eat too much before going to bed. If you are using a diuretic, talk to your doctor about taking this medication during the day. While regular exercise during the day helps you stay active and fall asleep easily at night, exercising a few hours before bedtime can make it harder for you to fall asleep.
Sleeping medication may be prescribed: Your doctor may prescribe sleeping medication for a short period of time if other strategies do not work. The recommended sleeping pill will depend solely on your specific problem (trouble falling asleep or staying asleep), as well as any other medications you are taking.
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