There is a connection between sleep andlung cancer.
This article will explore the connections between sleep and lung cancer.
These connections go both ways, with sleep impacting lung cancer and lung cancer impacting sleep.
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What Is Insomnia?
Does Lung Cancer Affect Your Sleep?
Thesymptoms of lung cancerand the side effects of certain treatments can make it difficult to sleep well.
People with lung cancer may struggle to:
Does Sleep Have Any Effect on Lung Cancer?
Sleep has an effect on lung cancer in multiple ways.
The average amount of sleep a person gets per night can impact their chances of developing lung cancer.
What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that involves difficulty breathing when airflow is either partially or fully blocked.
After a person is diagnosed with lung cancer and begins treatment, sleep can still have an impact.
Sleep is important when coping with cancer and going through treatments.
Getting an adequate amount of quality sleep can help improve physical and mental health.
Lung cancer can cause and worsen both of these conditions.
This is sometimes caused byinflammation(localized irritation or swelling).
However, it is important to consider the treatments being used for cancer to ensure they do not interfere.
Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia(CBT-i) is the primary treatment for insomnia.
Medicationsare sometimes used to treat insomnia.
Lifestyle Changes for Sleep Issues
Making lifestyle changes can improve sleep.
For example,weight losscan be used along with other treatments of obstructive sleep apnea to help control symptoms.
Insomnia is best treated with a combination of insomnia-specific cognitive behavioral therapy and multiple lifestyle changes.
A few simple adjustments can often go a long way.
This is a challenge because sleep is important for healing and daily functioning.
Sleep apnea can be treated with a machine called a positive airway pressure (PAP) gear.
Experiencing sleep issues in addition to lung cancer can be even more challenging.
Reach out to a primary care practitioner or sleep specialist for support.
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American Sleep Association.Lifestyle changes.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Lung cancer warning signs.
