COVID and insomnia: what should you know?

Cough, fever, blocked breathing, aches or medication effects can make it harder to fall asleep or stay asleep. Isolation, worry and an irregular daytime schedule may keep the body clock unsettled after other symptoms improve. Poor sleep can then contribute to daytime sleepiness, low patience and difficulty concentrating.

Short-lived sleep disruption during an illness is not the same as a lasting sleep disorder. If trouble sleeping continues, affects work or safety, or comes with persistent low mood or excessive worry, another condition such as depression or generalised anxiety disorder may need consideration.

Keep a regular wake time, get daylight during the day, and use gentle activity as your recovery allows. Make the bedroom cool, dark and quiet; reduce late caffeine and avoid using alcohol as a sleep aid. If you are awake for a long time, leave bed for a quiet activity and return when sleepy.

Use medicines, supplements or sedating cold products only after checking they are suitable for you. A clinician can help address cough, pain, mood symptoms or a disrupted routine without masking a problem.

Seek urgent help for severe breathing difficulty, new confusion, fainting or thoughts of harming yourself. Arrange medical advice if insomnia is persistent, daytime sleepiness makes driving unsafe, or sleep loss is accompanied by worsening mood, panic or symptoms of another illness.

Ask whether your medicines or symptoms may be disturbing sleep, which recovery routine fits your health, and whether structured insomnia treatment or a review for anxiety, depression or sleep apnoea is appropriate.