COVID-19 and Sleep: Everything You Need to Know

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Written by Dr. Michael Breus

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It is estimated that nearly 40% of people have experienced sleep disruptions during the pandemic, with insomnia being most prominent. This phenomenon led to the newly coined terms “coronasomnia” or “COVID-somnia.” Sleep is vital for physical and mental health, so COVID-related sleep loss can have serious consequences.

Although some people started sleeping longer during the lockdown portion of the pandemic, reductions in sleep quality were also common. Difficulty sleeping has affected large segments of the population including people infected with COVID-19, health care workers, and people in the general public who have felt the stress of a global health crisis.

Many social restrictions related to the pandemic–including stay-at-home orders–have been lifted, and sleep health is beginning to rebound. Nevertheless, people are experiencing ongoing sleep problems, especially given fears related to new variants or waves of infections that have contributed to the persistence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key Takeaways

 

  • The COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased stress and disrupted sleep for many individuals.
  • Adopting a consistent routine, limiting screen time, practicing relaxation techniques, and creating a sleep-friendly environment can improve sleep.
  • Adequate sleep is crucial for immune health and sleep deprivation can increase the risk of COVID-19 infection.
  • Seek professional help if concerned about insomnia or other sleep disorders.

Sleep Challenges During the Pandemic

There are multiple causes for disrupted sleep during the pandemic, and these issues may affect individuals in different and complex ways over time.

COVID-19 Infections

People who have COVID-19 are among the most likely to experience disrupted sleep during the pandemic. In many cases, fever, cough, and other COVID-19 symptoms can make it harder to sleep well. Medications to treat COVID-19 or its symptoms may also interfere with normal sleep.

While poor sleep was initially seen in hospitalized people with severe COVID-19, studies have also found sleeping difficulties in people who were never admitted to the hospital. Sleep problems and daytime fatigue are also common symptoms reported by people with long-lasting effects of COVID-19, also known as “long COVID.”

Altered Routines

The pandemic spurred major changes to everyday routines for people with and without COVID-19. Quarantines, working from home, and remote schooling are just a few examples of the dramatic ways that the pandemic upended typical patterns of daily life.

Altered routines can influence the body’s circadian rhythm, an internal clock that helps regulate normal timing of sleep. The pandemic has forced many people to change when and how much they get outside, exercise, and interact with others. All of these factors can modify circadian rhythm.

Stress

An important consequence of the pandemic has been an increase in stress, which can often lead to impaired sleep.

Worries about getting sick, frustration from disrupted routines, and scrolling through negative news on mobile devices before bed are just a few ways that the pandemic has magnified stress. Unsurprisingly, the people with the strongest feelings of stress during the pandemic have often reported the most difficulty with sleep.

Anxiety and Depression

For many people, the pandemic has negatively affected mental health. Multiple studies in different countries have found an increase in the number of people with symptoms of anxiety and depression since the start of the pandemic.

Both of these conditions have the potential to contribute to sleep problems like insomnia. In this way, the pandemic can worsen sleep through its negative effect on mental health. At the same time, insufficient sleep can cause or worsen conditions like anxiety and depression.

Social Isolation

Lockdowns at the start of the pandemic intentionally and abruptly cut off in-person social contact, and even without stay-at-home orders, many people continue social distancing.

The loneliness that can come from being isolated can worsen sleep. A lack of interaction with other people, including friends and family, can contribute to mental health challenges that can affect sleep.

Vivid Dreams

During the pandemic, many people have experienced an increase in dream activity, or “Covid dreams“, which may also mean a higher frequency of nightmares. Changes to dreams can disrupt sleep and may have a lasting effect on mental health.

Caring for Loved Ones

Being a caregiver for a loved one with COVID-19 has been linked to an increase in sleep interruptions. This may be related to the practical requirements of caregiving or the stress of taking care of someone who is sick.

Apart from taking care of someone with COVID-19, other types of caregiving duties during the pandemic, such as watching children who are taking classes remotely, may also play a role in sleep issues.

Reduced Access to Medical Care

During much of the pandemic, it has been difficult to see a doctor or receive medical testing, including in-person sleep studies to diagnose sleep disorders. As a result, some people with sleep problems may have gone undiagnosed and untreated because of the pandemic.

As with sleep disorders, people with health conditions that can harm sleep–such as arthritis and heart disease–may have had reduced access to medical care.

Ensuring You Get Enough Sleep During the Pandemic

Sleep is always important, but the benefits of being well-rested may be more significant during the pandemic. Getting enough hours of quality sleep can contribute to better health and well-being by supporting the immune system, which may reduce the risk of infection with the COVID-19 and help vaccines be more effective. Sleep can also help maintain effective brain function and regulate emotional wellness, including decision making skills and ability to adapt to change.

While there are many ways that the pandemic can disturb sleep, a number of tips may help protect against these disruptions and facilitate better sleep:

  • Create consistent routines: Although the pandemic has reshuffled many elements of everyday life, try to restore key routines throughout the day. This may help with the body’s timekeeping, which is how it tracks and regulates different activities, including sleep.
  • Have a sleep schedule: Budget enough time for sleep each night, and, as much as possible, attempt to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.
  • Restrict excess time in bed: With more time at home during the pandemic, it may be tempting to spend more time in bed. However, to improve sleep, it’s best to only use the bed for sleep and sex. Too much time spent awake in bed can make it harder to fall asleep.
  • Cut back on screen time: Whether it’s watching a series, reading the news, or playing a game, screen time can activate the brain in ways that make sleep more difficult.
  • Make time for exercise: Being physically active can help relieve pandemic-related stress and reduce the chances of sleep disruptions.
  • Seek out daylight: Sunlight is a critical driver of the body’s circadian rhythm, so getting exposure to natural light, especially early in the day, can promote a better sleep-wake cycle.
  • Learn relaxation techniques: Calming the mind and body can prevent stress and anxiety from interfering with sleep. Experiment with different ways of relaxing like reading, deep breathing, or meditation, to find what works best.
  • Limit alcohol and caffeine intake: Drinking coffee or alcohol too late in the day can change the body’s normal sleep cycle and affect both the quantity and quality of sleep.

When to Talk To a Doctor

While changes to routines and habits can improve sleep during the pandemic, there are times when it is important to talk to a doctor. Consulting with a doctor is recommended if any of these issues are present:

  • Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or maintaining a regular sleep pattern
  • Daytime sleepiness, fatigue, or lack of concentration
  • Feelings of anxiety, depression, or acute stress
  • Abnormal breathing during sleep, including loud snoring with choking or gasping sounds

A health professional can review these symptoms along with your overall health. This may help diagnose a specific health issue or determine whether additional testing, such as a sleep study, is needed.

Depending on the diagnosis, a doctor may be able to recommend non-medical treatment like a virtual program for mindfulness or cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I). As appropriate, a doctor can also suggest other treatments that may be beneficial, including medications to enable sleep or to address underlying health issues that can interfere with sleep.

The Importance of Sleep When Sick with COVID-19

Getting good sleep supports the immune system and may help people with COVID-19 more effectively fight the infection. Unfortunately, COVID-19 increases the likelihood of reduced sleep quality.

Furthermore, improved sleep may support recovery from serious COVID-19. Getting better sleep may also help reduce lasting stress and mental health problems that can occur after recovering from COVID-19.

Tips for Sleeping When Sick With COVID-19

Bothersome symptoms of COVID-19 can make it harder to sleep well, but certain tips may help people with COVID-19 get better rest.

  • Practice good sleep habits: Routines can play a role in sleep, so it is often helpful to have a consistent sleep schedule, find ways to relax before bedtime, and avoid excess caffeine intake, especially at night.
  • Improve the sleep environment: While people with COVID-19 may not have complete control over their bedroom setting, especially if they are in the hospital, it may be beneficial to make even small adjustments to promote sleep. Keepling lights low and reducing or blocking out noise are examples of steps to promote better sleep.
  • Address sleep disorders or other underlying problems: People who have a sleep disorder like insomnia or sleep apnea should receive standard treatment to address the condition. It may also help to take steps to treat other health issues that affect sleep.
  • Ask the doctor about sleep aids: In some cases, a doctor may prescribe medication to facilitate sleep. For example, melatonin can improve sleep in people hospitalized with COVID-19 and may enhance disease recovery.

A doctor can offer the most specific guidance about improving sleep based on a person’s symptoms of COVID-19, the nature of their sleeping problems, and their general health. It is important to consult with the doctor before starting any treatment or taking any drug or supplement for sleep.

Frequently Asked Questions About COVID-19 and Sleep

How has the pandemic affected sleep in children?

Research suggests that almost half of children failed to get the recommended hours of sleep during the pandemic. Many of the same factors affecting sleep in adults also impact children, including changes to normal schedules and activities, stress, social isolation, and excess screen time.

How does COVID-19 affect people with sleep apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder marked by recurring pauses in breathing that reduce sleep quality. Studies have found that OSA is associated with a higher risk of infection, hospitalization, and severe COVID-19.

A device known as a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine is frequently used to treat sleep apnea, and consistent use of a CPAP has been linked to reduced risks from COVID-19 for people with sleep apnea. CPAP users may be advised to clean their device and accessories more frequently during the pandemic.

How does sleep affect COVID-19 vaccination?

With other types of viruses, a lack of sleep has been found to reduce vaccine effectiveness. More research is needed to determine the exact relationship between sleep and COVID-19 vaccines, but sleep is known to support immune function in ways that are related to how vaccines work.

Can I sleep in the same bed as someone with COVID-19?

To reduce the chances of infection, it is best to avoid sleeping in the same bed as someone who has an active case of COVID-19. The CDC recommends that people isolate for at least five days if they have symptoms and have tested positive for COVID-19. Someone with COVID-19 should try to remain in a separate room from other household members, including for sleep.

Does lifting pandemic restrictions resolve sleeping problems?

Fewer pandemic restrictions may reduce some barriers to sleep, but many people have lasting sleeping problems. Although lockdowns and large-scale quarantines are now rare, many people continue to face pandemic-related stress and disruption in their everyday lives. As a result, a focus on getting good sleep remains important.

How has the pandemic affected the sleep of health care workers?

Frontline medical workers have faced enormous challenges during the pandemic, including higher rates of disrupted sleep. Issues such as greater stress, longer work hours, and worries about getting COVID-19 have all weighed on the ability of health care workers to get quality sleep.

Trusted Resources About COVID-19

While COVID-19 is complex, there are helpful resources that explain vital information in an accessible way. When researching COVID-19, it is important to seek out trusted sources of evidence-based information, including:

References

About The Author

Dr. Michael Breus

Clinical Psychologist, Sleep Medicine Expert


Michael Breus, Ph.D is a Diplomate of the American Board of Sleep Medicine and a Fellow of The American Academy of Sleep Medicine and one of only 168 psychologists to pass the Sleep Medical Specialty Board without going to medical school. He holds a BA in Psychology from Skidmore College, and PhD in Clinical Psychology from The University of Georgia. Dr. Breus has been in private practice as a sleep doctor for nearly 25 years. Dr. Breus is a sought after lecturer and his knowledge is shared daily in major national media worldwide including Today, Dr. Oz, Oprah, and for fourteen years as the sleep expert on WebMD. Dr. Breus is also the bestselling author of The Power of When, The Sleep Doctor’s Diet Plan, Good Night!, and Energize!

  • POSITION: Combination Sleeper
  • TEMPERATURE: Hot Sleeper
  • CHRONOTYPE: Wolf

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