Hydrocephalus and Sleep

By Sarah Jones

Sarah has a passion for improving her and other’s sleep quality. Having suffered from sleep deprivation and feeling the effects across her entire life, she realized the importance of optimizing her sleep. She writes about sleep hygiene at SleepyDeep.com

The Effects of Insomnia on Hydrocephalus and How Natural Remedies Can Help

Sleep deprivation can take a toll on our health.  Sleeping 7 to 9 hours each night is the recommended time that allows both our minds and bodies to restore, recover, and recuperate.  Depriving yourself of sleep affects your mood, health, and cognitive activity in a negative manner.  Sleep is even more crucial to those that have hydrocephalus, a condition that affects the brain. Rest is needed to allow healing time and for system recovery during sleeping hours.

Hydrocephalus and Insomnia

Hydrocephalus can be the cause of headaches as well as some loss of both coordination and balance, seizures, and impaired vision.  Another of the physical symptoms is also sleepiness, although many have difficulty falling and staying asleep due to headaches or pain. Insomnia and hydrocephalus feed off of each other, as the person finds it difficult to fall asleep due to head pain, irritability or other physical symptoms.  Often this can lead to the misconception that the person’s shunt is ineffective or malfunctioning which can lead to unnecessary doctor’s visits or surgery. Ensuring you have the proper shunt will also help alleviate head pain and aches which can improve your sleep quality at night.

Sleep Deprivation Effects

Sleep deprivation can severely hurt our health.  Pain, stress, and anxiety can keep us awake at night which does nothing but further worsen our situation.  We must get enough sleep each night.  This is the only time our brains and bodies have to rest and to restore themselves.  While we sleep our heart rates drop as does our blood pressure which allows our bodies a break from working all day.  Sleep improves alertness, thinking abilities, motor skills, movement, energy levels and much more.  Sleeping is a key component to good health, and without it our conditions will get worse.

Techniques to Try

Without sleep, our bodies, as well as any conditions we have, may be affected negatively. Tossing and turning all evening, waking repeatedly, or not sleeping at all damages our bodies and minds.  There are natural techniques to try to help you fall asleep and stay asleep all night.  Those that suffer from hydrocephalus can benefit from calming and relaxation techniques as well for better rest.

One of the best techniques, to begin with, is food and drink intake.  Heavy meals or items loaded with sugar may be a large part of the insomnia issue.  Eat healthy fats like avocados, or try drink warm, decaffeinated tea or decaffeinated coffee to encourage relaxation.  Avoid all caffeine several hours before bedtime to avoid restless nights.

Calming exercises can assist you in falling asleep. Breathing exercises, meditation, and yoga are excellent calming techniques that help focus on your breathing and the “now” which can help stop anxiety and stress.  Try the 4-7-9 Breathing Exercise to fall asleep faster and lower your blood pressure and steady your heart rate.

Remove all technology from the sleeping area.  We love to watch T.V. or browse social media on one of our devices, and this often happens from the bed.  Eliminate bright screens which trigger our brains to awaken, and set the mood for rest in the bedroom.  Both mind and body will begin to acknowledge that this room means it is time to rest and relax which will lead to better sleep.

Stick to your schedule.  A sleeping schedule is one of the best things you can do to encourage good rest each day.  Setting specific times to sleep and to wake up helps us get acclimated to a schedule, and soon the benefits of staying on a schedule will appear.  Better rest, falling asleep faster, and staying asleep are results of setting a nightly rest schedule.

Reducing Pain Through Sleep

While headaches or stress may be keeping you awake, there are ways to convince your mind and body to sleep.  Lack of proper rest at night can only increase pain and headaches as your body has not had the time needed to reset from the day. Make evenings a relaxing, soothing experience allowing your mind to settle down as sleep draws closer.  Avoid sugar and caffeine which can also worsen headaches and pain as well as keep you awake all night.  Listen to soft music, enjoy dim lighting, and practice your breathing exercises for a restful and peaceful night.

Disclaimer:
This page is designed to provide helpful information on the subjects discussed. It is not intended as a substitute for treatment advice from a medical professional. For diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition, consult your doctor.

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