Covid and sleeplessness: what to know

Illness can shift your usual sleep and waking times, while coughing, blocked breathing, pain or fever may cause repeated waking. Worry about symptoms and spending more time resting during the day can also make night-time sleep harder.

If difficulty sleeping continues, other contributors may include anxiety, depression, burnout, acid reflux, an overactive thyroid, jet lag, insomnia or obstructive sleep apnoea. Loud snoring, witnessed pauses in breathing, morning headaches or marked daytime sleepiness are useful details to report.

Keep a steady wake time, seek daylight early in the day and reserve the bed for sleep and quiet rest. Reduce naps, caffeine and bright screens near bedtime. Treat congestion or discomfort according to your clinician’s advice, and use calming breathing or a brief wind-down routine rather than watching the clock.

If you cannot sleep, get up for a quiet activity in dim light and return to bed when drowsy. Arrange a GP consultation if sleep problems persist, affect driving or work, or leave you unable to function during the day.

Seek urgent help for severe breathing difficulty, confusion, fainting, chest pain or thoughts of harming yourself. Contact a clinician promptly for repeated breathing pauses at night, extreme daytime sleepiness or a rapid deterioration in mood or ability to cope.

Could my medicines, mood, reflux, thyroid symptoms or breathing at night be affecting sleep? How long should I try a structured sleep routine? Would a sleep assessment or psychological support help, and which sleep medicines should I avoid?