Sleep disturbances and lack of sleep are common problems that many people with a brain injury face. Multiple effects of brain injury make it harder for people to get the sleep they need. This can include, but is not limited to:
- Depression and anxiety experienced as a result of the injury.
- Chemical changes. Our brains moderate the release of chemicals that help with sleep, and this can be impacted after brain injury.
- Sleep disorders and sleep syndromes.
- Changes to breath control.
- Physical pain/discomfort.
Sleep problems can also come from sleeping too much, causing mixed up sleep cycles. In general, people with a brain injury do need a bit more rest after their injury, which can make some sleep problems difficult to spot. Addressing sleep problems can be done by developing a sleep routine made up of good habits (also called sleep hygiene) and by working with a healthcare team if the sleep problems are medical in nature.
Topics in this section include:
Importance of sleep in brain injury recovery
Sleep problems can make recovery more difficult. If a person isn’t able to focus, gets tired at a faster rate or is unable to complete rehabilitation exercises, progress in recovery can be slower.
A great way to monitor sleep and understand how it is affecting you is to keep a sleep journal. This can not only help identify potential sleep problems, but it can be shared with the medical team.
You can also keep track of sleep through technology specifically designed to help monitor sleep. For example, some fitness trackers have sleep functions. They are designed to be as easy on your eyes and brain as possible (little-to-no blue light) and can tell you important information about periods of sleep, if you were restless, and if you woke up. Some even monitor heart rate!
Sleeping problems can become a cycle that can be difficult to break. But as sleep improves, so does brain injury recovery, and vice versa. The key is finding ways to understand your relationship with sleep and developing methods to support healthy sleeping patterns.
Common sleep problems after brain injury
The following are some common sleep problems that you may experience.
Changes in breathing
The brain helps regulate breathing, and damage to the part that controls the breath can lead to challenges. In some cases, a person with affected breathing control may actually stop breathing for short periods of time. This is commonly called sleep apnea and can also cause snoring problems. There are sleep apnea machines (such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine) that a person can wear to bed to help control breathing.
A common challenge faced by people with sleep apnea is that they don’t know they have it. There are some signs you may notice yourself: you wake up choking, gasping, or with shortness of breath. Other signs such as snoring or stopping breathing are only noticed by partners. Sleep apnea may also cause insomnia. If you or a partner have noticed these symptoms of sleep apnea, you can speak with your doctor about being referred to a sleep specialist who can run more tests. Successful treatment for sleep apnea can be a game-changer.
Chemical changes
Parts of the brain control chemical levels in the body that help a person fall asleep. For example, the pineal gland in the brain regulates melatonin, which plays a role in falling asleep [1]. When there is damage to these brain functions, a person may have trouble falling asleep or experiencing disrupted sleep patterns because the chemicals no longer affect the body in the same way.
Depression or anxiety
When a person is experiencing mental health struggles such as depression or anxiety, it can affect their sleep. This can in turn lead to feelings of fatigue and tiredness that can actually impact depression and anxiety more. Taking care of mental health and practicing proper sleep hygiene will help with the related challenges.
Medications
Some medications have the side effect of interfering with sleep. They may also cause drowsiness during the periods of time the person is awake. Any side effects that may be stemming from medication should be shared with the medical team in charge of prescribing them. While they may not be able to eliminate the side effects, they will be able to explain what’s happening and how to manage them.
Pain and discomfort
Physical pain and uncomfortable positions may contribute to a person not being able to fall asleep or stay asleep. Before going to bed, take any pain medications (following the instructions) prescribed, lay in a comfortable position, and use a supportive mattress, pillows and bedding.
Managing pain can help manage sleep. Common pain management strategies include physiotherapy, medication, meditation, or even special pillows or mattresses to provide more support to affected areas.
Sleep disorders and syndromes
Studies have shown that brain injury and sleep disorders go hand in hand. When looking at a successful sleep-wake cycle, a person gets uninterrupted rest at night and is awake during the day. Sleep disorders make it difficult to rest, and brain injury recovery can suffer as a result. It’s difficult to recognize a sleep disorder or a related sleep problem because it can include resting too much as well as not resting enough. Types of sleep disorders include:
- Circadian rhythm sleep disorders. These disorders make it difficult for a person to follow a normal sleep pattern
- Hypersomnias. These are disorders that make the person extremely sleepy
- Insomnias. These are disorders that make it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep
- Parasomnias. These are disorders that include unwanted events during sleep. This can include sleep walking, talking, and bedwetting
- Sleep related breathing disorders. These are disorders that cause difficulty breathing while asleep
- Sleep movement disorders. These are disorders that cause unwanted movement, which can make it difficult to fall or stay asleep
Sleep disorders/syndromes are challenging to cope with but can improve over time by committing to good sleep hygiene/routines. Any sleep challenges should be shared with the medical team, who may be able to offer additional recommendations for treatment.
Too much napping
A person coping with physical and cognitive changes after a brain injury may need to take more rest periods or naps. This is normal, as they’re using a lot of energy to complete tasks and may need to take more breaks than they did before their injury. But too much napping can make it difficult for a person to fall asleep at night, when they are supposed to be doing the bulk of their recharging for the next day. This leads to mixed up sleep patterns or poor sleep.
Part of a good sleep hygiene routine is listening to your body, and sometimes the body and brain do need a nap. But naps should be limited during the day and should be kept short. An alternative to napping is practicing meditation. It allows you to take some time to rest, but keeps you awake [2].
Effects of poor sleep
If you aren’t getting a lot of sleep, you may experience:
- Bad moods or emotional lability (mood swings)
- Depression/anxiety
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Increased difficulty thinking or remembering. Any cognitive challenges you are coping with may be worse on days when you aren’t getting enough sleep
- Physical discomfort, including aches
A lack of sleep leading to effects like these can impact an entire day and make it difficult (or in some cases impossible) to complete activities of daily living (ADLs).
[1] Healthlink BC
[2] Information for this section sourced in part from msktc.org
