Study: sleep has a big impact on your mood and your mental health

CINCINNATI (WKRC) – A good snooze may be needed right now to help body and soul.

Just a few months into this pandemic, more than half of us reported it was messing with our sleep.

A new study published in Sleep Health says that is having a big impact on our mood and our mental health. Researchers in this study found people who are sleeping less than six hours a night or are sleeping at inconsistent times are much likely to feel this impact.

In this study, 20% experienced anxiety and depression; 30% experienced burnout; 20% reported an increase in substance use such as drugs or alcohol to cope with that stress.

Dr. Andy Hearn is a vascular surgeon at The Vein Center of Cincinnati. He says he has also seen common problems that interfere with sleep climb in this pandemic, such as restless leg syndrome.

"Typical scenario is that the legs become so irritated at night that they cramp and twist and often interrupt the patient's sleep cycle, so they're only sleeping maybe one or two or three hours at a time,” said Dr. Hearn. “I have one patient that was sleeping maybe one or two hours at night for the last 10 years. He came in, was evaluated, had venous insufficiency. We corrected his problem, his restless leg syndrome is gone, so he's now sleeping eight to 10 hours at night. The funny thing is, his family says, ‘Donny, you're back. you're normal again.’ Before, he was very irritable and drowsy throughout the day."

If this sounds like you, you can be evaluated at no charge at The Vein Center of Cincinnati on Beechmont Avenue. Their next screening event is on June 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The number to call is 513-232-2400. There are a number of ways to treat this. If you do need treatment, in most cases, it’s covered by your medical insurance plan.