When Cancer Patients Can't Sleep, These 7 Tips Can Help You

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The existence of problems with sleep patterns that cause hours of sleep to change or unable to sleep can be experienced by anyone. No exception for cancer patients. Even though cancer patients should get optimal sleep time, don't let them get less rest. So, what causes sleep disorders in cancer? Find out the answer below, yes.

Why do cancer patients often can't sleep?

Sleep is one of the things you can't miss every day. Because, sleep and rest have an important function to restore the body's energy after a day of activities. You can also get a variety of good benefits if you get optimal sleep time. For example, can maintain physical and mental health, lower blood pressure, strengthen the immune system, and so forth.

Even so, there are still many people who cannot sleep, including cancer patients. Reported from the page of the National Cancer Institute, the most common sleep disorder experienced by cancer patients is insomnia.

Generally, people who get cancer treatment are more prone to fatigue and thus require longer sleep times. However, a study shows that most cancer sufferers actually feel the opposite, that is, they cannot sleep well. This sleep disorder can be triggered by several factors, namely:

1. Side effects of cancer treatment

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According to Oxana Palesh, an assistant professor at Stanford University Medical Center, sleep disorders are commonly experienced by cancer patients, even affecting up to 80 percent of patients who undergo chemotherapy.

A study he did also found that sleep disorders insomnia can be experienced up to three times more in cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy than in healthy people.

In addition, the work of drugs taken by cancer patients such as hormone therapy, corticosteroids, tranquilizers, and antidepressants, which are used in the long term can cause insomnia.

2. Complaints arising from drugs and cancer treatment

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Without realizing it, things that arise due to cancer treatments such as pain, anxiety, night sweats, digestive problems, bladder problems, and respiratory problems also affect the sleep patterns of cancer patients.

3. Not able to manage stress properly

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In addition to the effects of the drug and the treatment being taken, many cancer patients cannot sleep because of prolonged stress. Conditions that trigger stress also vary, ranging from feeling worried about the disease suffered; worried about your personal, family or work life; or because of thinking about physical changes that occur due to treatment.

4. Being in the hospital for a long time

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During hospitalization in the hospital, it is possible that cancer patients may experience saturation so they cannot sleep as usual. This can be due to feeling uncomfortable with beds, pillows, mattresses, room temperature, or having to share a room with other patients while in hospital.

In addition, hospital routines can also be a cause of sleep disorders in cancer patients. For example, when doctors and nurses come to do an examination or just give medicines.

Tips to overcome sleep disorders in cancer patients

Getting enough sleep during cancer treatment is very important to fight cancer. Because, according to Dr. Laeeq Shamsuddin, a medical director of the sleep clinic in Cancer Treatment Centers of America, lack of sleep will increase the hormone cortisol in the body.

When cortisol increases, the number of natural killer cells that work to fight cancer in the body will decrease. So, it is important to have optimal sleep time to accelerate cancer healing.

For the sake of optimal sleep patterns, cancer patients can do the following tricks:

  • Do exercise at least once a day. You can do this activity starting from 2-3 hours before going to bed.
  • Avoid caffeine at least 6-8 hours before going to bed.
  • Avoid drinking alcohol.
  • Drink warm drinks such as warm milk or decaffeinated tea before going to bed.
  • Napping is allowed as long as it's not too long to avoid disturbing sleep at night.
  • Ask someone to massage your back or legs before going to bed.
  • If you have to be hospitalized in a hospital, make the atmosphere of the room as comfortable as possible at home. For example by bringing pillows and blankets from home.

If after doing these things you still cannot sleep, try to consult with the conditions you are experiencing with the doctor or nurse who is dealing with you so that you can find out why you have trouble sleeping.

When Cancer Patients Can't Sleep, These 7 Tips Can Help You
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