The Impact of Insomnia on Mental and Physical Health

Not getting enough sleep can have a significant impact on your physical and mental health. Sleep is the time where your body is able to heal itself and recharge, and insomnia can lead to a cascade of health issues that might not otherwise be an issue.

Insomnia is especially common among veterans. There are a number of reasons why sleep disruptions occur with these individuals, from back pain to PTSD. VA benefits may be available to help you deal with the impact of insomnia on your mental and physical health. Reach out to a veterans disability attorney at Gang & Associates today to secure your insomnia VA rating.

What Qualifies as Insomnia?

Insomnia occurs when a person is not sleeping as well as they should. While it is a common misconception that this condition only involves the lack of sleep, this term is also used for disruptive, restless sleep. A person who struggles to fall or stay asleep might also have insomnia.

The extent of insomnia can vary significantly. For some people, it is little more than a minor nuisance as they lie awake at night waiting to fall asleep. For others, it can represent a major health challenge that can impact their life in numerous ways.

Insomnia related to the inability to stay asleep comes in three different categories. Sleep onset insomnia means falling asleep is a problem. Maintenance insomnia makes you wake up repeatedly, even though you eventually fall back asleep. Finally, early waking insomnia occurs at the end of the night when you wake up and cannot fall back asleep.

Why Sleep Matters For Your Mental Health

We have all heard the term “good night’s sleep,” but the reality is that few things are more harmful to your health than sleep deprivation. While there are obvious physical challenges that come with missing sleep, the impact on your mental health cannot be understated.

When you are fatigued, you can expect to face increased negative emotional responses when under stress. Even when stress is not a major factor, you are less likely to experience positive emotions.

Sleep plays an important role when it comes to brain functions, including your ability to process events and regulate your emotions. Fatigue can make it difficult for you to cope with stressors, even in relatively minor situations.

The Physical Impact of Sleep Deprivation

For serious cases of insomnia, the impact on your health can be substantial. Different parts of the body could ultimately be affected, with some of these consequences having long-lasting effects.

Your Immune System

Your immune system is most active while you sleep. That is when it produces some of the important tools for fighting off illnesses, like antibodies. These substances are crucial for fighting against viruses or bacteria.

The damage to your immune system can also create an unfortunate cycle. Your immune system creates cytokines, which can also aid your sleep. Sleep deprivation can impact cytokines production, making it even harder to get a restful night’s sleep. Over time, long-term sleep loss can result in chronic conditions like diabetes.

Respiratory Issues

The lack of sleep could cause you to develop respiratory issues. Sleep deprivation can increase the risk of respiratory infections, including common cold and flu. It can also worsen existing conditions. For example, chronic lung illness can worsen due to sleep deprivation.

Central Nervous System

The central nervous system is the body’s information superhighway. It allows the brain to send and receive signals from throughout the body, informing it of stimuli and helping the brain control the body’s movement. When you don’t get enough sleep, your insomnia can disrupt how information is passed through your nervous system.

Sleep deprivation can have a harmful impact on your memory. While sleeping, pathways between neurons in your brain will form, allowing you to remember information you have just learned. This process can be disrupted if you do not get enough sleep.

In extreme cases, insomnia can lead to hallucinations or even trigger mania in people with bipolar mood disorder. Serious and unusual behavior is also common.

Common Causes of Insomnia Among Veterans

Veterans are known for having a high rate of insomnia that far exceeds what non-veterans experience. This can result from multiple aspects of military life. For starters, maintaining a regular sleep schedule can be difficult for many individuals in the armed services. This is especially true for those deployed overseas or in a warzone. Harsh living conditions can also make it difficult to get a restful night’s sleep.

Many veterans are unable to sleep due to conditions they have developed during the course of their service. Sometimes these are psychological conditions. For example, a veteran suffering from PTSD might have a hard time falling asleep due to intrusive thoughts regarding a traumatic event. Other veterans may struggle due to the chronic pain they are facing.

Veterans frequently seek an insomnia VA rating when their inability to sleep impacts their quality of life. However, the VA is unlikely to approve a claim without first having a veteran submit to a sleep study. These studies are the key to receiving a diagnosis that will be strong enough for a benefits claim. During these studies, you are monitored to determine if you are fully asleep or partially conscious during the night. The results of these studies can be the most important evidence in your claim for benefits.

Speak with a Veterans Disability Attorney About Your Insomnia VA Rating

If you are living with the consequences of insomnia, you have the opportunity to pursue a claim with the VA for benefits. Proving that your sleep disruptions are related to your military service can be challenging, especially without help. The good news is that even a denied claim does not mean you are out of options.

Let the attorneys of Gang & Associates help you deal with your appeal. Contact us as soon as possible to discuss your insomnia VA rating.