Sleep and Psoriasis: do these issues overlap in any way?
Many of us have suffered from sleep loss at some time in our lives. It not only makes it difficult to get through it, but it can also lift our stress levels and have a detrimental impact on mental health. The National Sleep Foundation suggests preventing this, for all adults, sleep every night for a minimum of 7 – 9 hours.
If you have psoriasis, sleep can have an even greater effect on your standard of living. Sleep is gradually being related to psoriasis symptoms according to related studies. With over half of all psoriasis patients suffering sleep problems, there are a few things you should be aware of.
What’s Going On Inside Your Body?
Psoriasis is considered to be a form of autoimmune disease. Instead of only protecting the body from viruses and bacteria, your immune system often attacks your own tissues. Your body produces chemicals that cause skin inflammation.
Also, when you don’t have enough sleep, your body is stressed, which causes an inflammatory reaction similar to when you don’t get enough sleep. Other psychiatric conditions, such as depression and anxiety, have been shown to have this effect.
Scientists found that there is a cyclical association between the emotional state and psoriasis flare-ups as a result of this.
What You Feel and Witness
Although it’s unclear if psoriasis induces sleep issues or whether a lack of sleep causes psoriasis to intensify, there are some signs to look for and report to your doctor. Pay heed to the changes in your mental condition.
Related to psoriasis:
- Itching that is worsening
- Pain increases.
- Increased flare frequency
- Pressure in the joints
Related to sleep:
- Insomnia
- Staying asleep is difficult.
- Tired throughout the day
- During sleep, you can experience gasping or coughing.
- Increase in snoring
- Legs that twitch
Related to mental health:
- Feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness
- A lack of enthusiasm for everyday things
- Feeling increasingly exhausted and irritated.
- Having trouble thinking and becoming restless
- Engaging in social activities is difficult.
Putting it All Together
As doctors treat the physical and psychological symptoms which are often caused by psoriasis, you must open up the way you feel with your doctor. In this way, he or she has the necessary knowledge to handle the whole photo, which is likely to lead to better results.
You should do anything to support yourself as well. Follow these tips to sleep well and reduce stress and, I think, improve your psoriasis symptoms:
- Try setting a schedule to go to bed and wake up respectively.
- Keep cool, dark, and silent in your bed.
- In the afternoon and at night, avoid stimulants like caffeine.
- Electronics before bed are restricted, whether it is TV, machine, or phone.
- Develop a soothing regimen such as a warm bath or meditation.
- Train and make good eating decisions every day.
- Give yourself a way to cope with the depression, for example, to speak to a friend or to see a psychiatrist.
The relation between mind and body is a strong connection and is obvious in disorders such as psoriasis. While psoriasis is not cured, as our awareness continues to evolve, we will tackle the causes and care with greater accuracy.
Bottom Line
Take home message
Poor sleep is a chronic issue for many patients that affects around one in three people. Chronic sleep problems are linked to decreased attention and diminished performance and are also associated with: cardiovascular disease, asthma, obesity, Mellitus type 2, and depression.
Chronic sleep problems are split into inadequate sleep quantity and low sleep quality. Less than 7 hours of sleep a day is easy to determine the inadequate number. On the other hand, the quality of sleep assessment is much more complicated and hard to determine as the quality of sleep is determined by sleep latency, longevity, depth, and regeneration after sleep. Assessment of the consistency of sleep calls for rational assessment with polysomnography and other approaches.
In patients with sleep problems, poor sleep is particularly common, and almost 90% of patients with psoriasis experience sleeping problems. Especially important is the sleep disorder in psoriasis patients because psoriasis is correlated individually with many of the similar comorbid disorders as the effects of sleep dysfunction. One research shows the rise in prevalence of ischemic cardiac failure and strokes in sleeping patients.
Our Take
“The most essential aspect of life is sleep. Once the sleep cycle is reversed, the skin cycle can be easily corrected”, according to our lead expert Dr. Adil Moulanchikkal, who has assisted thousands of people in resolving their skin cycle issues.
At Elite Ayurveda, we believe in correcting skin problems by sleep, diet, and drugs that are absolutely optimised for both your well-being and efficacy.
Related:
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SCALP PSORIASIS: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment Options
Is psoriasis contagious or infectious?
Psoriasis and genetics: is there a causative link?
