What should cancer patients do if they suffer from insomnia? These four tips will help you improve!

March 21 this year is World Sleep Day, which aims to remind everyone to pay attention to sleep, the cornerstone of health.

For cancer patients, sleep is not only an important way to restore physical strength, but also a key link in fighting the disease. Due to the various troubles caused by the disease itself and treatment, the sleep quality of cancer patients is often difficult to guarantee.

Deng Tianhao, director of the Second Oncology Department of Hunan Provincial Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine (Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine), gives advice to cancer patients.

1. How important is sleep to cancer patients?

1. Enhance immunity

Sleep is an important period for the body to repair and regulate itself, and the immune system is strengthened during this period. Sufficient sleep can promote the normal development and function of immune cells such as T cells and B cells, helping cancer patients better resist cancer cell invasion and reduce the risk of infection.

2. Relieve fatigue and pain

Cancer patients often suffer from physical fatigue and pain. Good sleep can promote the secretion of endorphins and other substances, effectively relieve pain, make patients feel refreshed and less fatigued after waking up, and thus improve their quality of life.

3. Improve treatment effect

Adequate sleep can enhance cancer patients' tolerance to treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, help them better cope with the side effects of treatment, promote the smooth progress of treatment, and may even prolong survival time.

4. Improve your mental state

Lack of sleep may cause or aggravate anxiety or depression, which in turn affects sleep quality, forming a vicious cycle. Good sleep can help patients maintain a positive attitude and have more confidence in treatment.

5. Promote recovery and treatment effects

A reduction in sleep time or a deterioration in sleep quality will cause a decrease in some substances in the human body that protect the body's immune function. The decrease in these substances means a decrease in the body's immune function, which directly affects the recovery of cancer patients and may even promote tumor growth and metastasis.

2. What factors are the causes of sleep disorders in cancer patients?

1. Physical factors

Pain caused by the tumor itself and side effects of treatment (such as nausea, vomiting, hot flashes caused by chemotherapy, skin discomfort caused by radiotherapy, etc.) may interfere with sleep. In addition, complications such as the respiratory system and cardiovascular system can also affect sleep quality.

2. Psychological factors

Negative emotions such as tension, anxiety, fear, depression, etc. after suffering from cancer, as well as concerns about the prognosis of the disease and financial pressure, may cause patients to be mentally tense, have difficulty falling asleep or have shallow sleep, wake up easily with many dreams, and have difficulty falling asleep after waking up.

3. Changes in living habits and environment

The unfamiliar environment during hospitalization, disrupted daily routine, and reduced activity due to physical discomfort at home may all cause sleep disorders.

3. What are some ways to improve sleep?

1. Psychological adjustment

Patients can relieve their emotions by listening to music, reading, chatting with family and friends, etc. If necessary, seek the help of a professional psychologist, conduct psychological counseling and relaxation training, such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, etc., to reduce the psychological burden and create good conditions for sleep.

2. Improve the sleeping environment

Keep the bedroom quiet, dark and cool, choose a comfortable mattress and pillow, and use blackout curtains, earplugs and other auxiliary tools. Inpatients can communicate with medical staff to adjust the lighting in the ward to reduce unnecessary disturbances at night.

3. Adjust your lifestyle

Stick to a regular schedule and go to bed and get up at the same time every day. Increase your activity level during the day, such as taking a walk or doing simple yoga, but avoid strenuous exercise before bed. Avoid using electronic devices before bed. Relax your body and mind by taking a hot bath or drinking warm milk to promote sleep.

4. Reasonable treatment

Report sleep problems to your doctor and adjust your treatment plan under the doctor's guidance to relieve your physical discomfort. If necessary, use sleep aids for a short period of time under the doctor's evaluation, but be aware of the side effects and dependence of the drugs.

Deng Tianhao, director of the Second Oncology Department of Hunan Provincial Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine (affiliated hospital of Hunan Provincial Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine), emphasized that sleep is not just a simple rest for cancer patients. Sleep is related to the patient's immune function, body metabolism, symptom relief, psychological state, and treatment effect. The sleep health of cancer patients cannot be ignored. Improving sleep quality is a "long-term battle" that requires patience.

Therefore, cancer patients should pay attention to sleep quality and, if necessary, take measures to improve sleep quality under the guidance of a doctor, so as to fight the disease with a more positive attitude and greater physical strength.

Hunan Medical Chat Special Author: Tan Wanwan, Department of Oncology II, Hunan Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine (Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine)

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(Edited by ZS)