Many Covid-19 Survivors Have Trouble Falling Asleep And Sleep Quality. Scientists believe that these disorders may be caused by some mental health problems, according to Daily MedNews..

Experts analyzed data collected from nearly 5,000 people who wore a digital sleep device before and during the pandemic.. The authors also studied the responses to a June 2020 mental health survey of approximately 15% of these users..

“In addition to sleep during the pandemic, people’s sleep patterns before the pandemic was linked to their likelihood of experiencing mental health symptoms during the pandemic,” said study author Mark Zeisler of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.. “We don’t know the direction of this relationship—the extent to which mental health affects sleep, sleep affects mental health, or both—but we see evidence for the important role of sleep during a pandemic, especially when we look for modifiable risk factors.”.

His team found that, on average, study participants slept 15 minutes more each night and had more consistent sleep times during the pandemic.. They went to bed late but woke up even later than usual.. But not everyone slept better, and sleep worsened in a subgroup of people in the study..

About 20% of study participants tested positive for symptoms of anxiety or depression, researchers say.. Thirty percent tested positive for burnout and about 20% reported an increase in substance use to cope with stress.

Participants who slept less than six hours a night before and during the pandemic had a higher risk of anxiety, depression and burnout. Lower sleep consistency has also been associated with an increased risk of mental and behavioral symptoms..

The results of the study were published in the journal Sleep Health..

“Our study highlights the importance of sleep for mental health, especially in the context of stressful episodes,” Zeisler said.. “Striving to prioritize sleep and develop a regular sleep schedule may provide protection during this time.”.

The team hopes to conduct a follow-up study to find out if people who had mental health symptoms in June 2020 have them and what role sleep may play in their mental health..

medical-heal. en.