Multiple sclerosis (MS) causes many symptoms that can disrupt your quality of life. A less commonly known issue is its association with several different sleep problems.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is known in part for the physical fatigue it causes. However, the sleep problems associated with MS aren’t as widely known.
For many people, the causes of MS-related sleep problems are more than just physical discomfort.
This article reviews the types of sleep problems often associated with MS. If any of these issues are interfering with your sleep, be sure to talk with your doctor.
MS is associated with an increased risk of both obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA).
Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition. It’s characterized by frequent pauses in breathing while you sleep. Your lungs catch up after these breathing pauses by taking deep gasps of air.
OSA may cause you to snore violently. Both types of sleep apnea (OSA and CSA) can cause you to feel excessively tired during the day.
People with MS may have a higher risk of sleep apnea than those without MS.
MS-caused changes in brainstem function may play a role. Your brainstem controls your drive to breathe, allowing you to breathe while you sleep. Demyelinating lesions can develop on the brainstem, affecting the pace of your breathing.
A person with MS may also be at higher risk of sleep apnea if they are having difficulties with swallowing (dysphagia). Nerve spasms associated with MS can also cause related sleep apnea.
Obesity is another known risk factor for OSA.
If you have sleep apnea, see a doctor as soon as possible. A sleep specialist can help diagnose whether you have OSA or CSA and prescribe therapy to correct your condition and prevent long-term damage from oxygen deprivation.
Nocturia is a sleep problem experienced by many patients with MS. Having nocturia means you wake up frequently in the middle of the night with strong urges to urinate. You may not release very much urine most of the time, but find yourself waking up anyway.
Overactive bladder medications can help treat nocturia. These medications can regulate your bladder muscles and reduce how often you feel the urge to urinate.
Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) and restless leg syndrome (RLS) are common with neurological disorders, such as MS, Parkinson’s disease, head trauma, and others.
PLMD is characterized by involuntary movements of your body during periods of rest. These can be as small as toe movements or as significant as leg bends at the knee. Large PLMS movements are likely to wake you up in the middle of the night.
RLS causes unpleasant tingling or pulling sensations in your legs, along with an overwhelming urge to move them. For most people, that urge is more intense when trying to sleep.
MS medications cannot relieve PLMS or RLS. A sleep specialist, however, might be able to help treat it.
Hypersomnia causes you to feel excessively tired, irritable, and anxious during the day.
What sets hypersomnia apart from tiredness due to lack of sleep is that the tiredness isn’t related to interrupted sleep at night.
People with MS who have hypersomnia may take frequent naps during the day, no matter how much shut-eye they get at night. The urge to nap can come at inappropriate times, such as during work.
Mood disorders such as
A relaxation routine can help you cope with stress and depression so you can sleep more soundly with few disruptions. Antidepressants can also help treat insomnia and fatigue related to MS.
If you’re experiencing stress, depression, or anxiety, talk with a doctor about how these conditions are affecting you, your ability to sleep, and your overall level of fatigue.
They can provide recommendations for reducing these MS-related mood disorders, which in turn may improve your ability to sleep, and reduce your levels of fatigue.
It’s important to have your sleep problems evaluated by a doctor. Sleep apnea, overactive bladder, and hypersomnia may be stand-alone conditions not necessarily caused by MS.
Other possible causes include:
Diagnosing the cause of your sleep problems is important for finding the right treatments. Never self-medicate for any sleep problem. Doing so can interfere with your MS treatment plan and your overall health.
Fatigue affects 75% to 95% of people with MS. But this common symptom doesn’t have the same across-the-board causes for people with MS.
Be sure to talk with your doctor about your symptoms, as well as medications that can help address the specific sleep problems you’re experiencing. A better night’s sleep can help you fight MS-related fatigue, as well as battle the physical toll the condition takes on your body.
Consistency is one of the best measures to take to address sleep problems. You should make an effort to go to bed at the same time every evening with no distractions.
Reserve your bed for sleep alone. Reading on a screen, using your computer or phone, or watching TV in bed may make it more difficult for you to fall asleep. When you get in bed, make sure your environment is quiet, dark, and relaxing. Also, try to wake up around the same time every morning.