What you need to know about insomnia with gastrointestinal complaints
Insomnia is a sleep disorder in which a person has difficulty falling asleep and/or staying asleep. Adults should sleep seven to eight hours per night. Insufficient sleep can reduce the ability to function optimally during the day. Insomnia can occur with gastrointestinal complaints because bowel symptoms can wake you up and deprive you of sleep.
Treatment of insomnia with gastrointestinal complaints
Treat the underlying condition, if one is present. You can also take the following measures yourself:
– Avoid red wine, chocolate, aged cheese, nuts and caffeine
– Do not watch TV or use tablets in the evening
– Meditate and take a walk in the evening
– Use hypoallergenic bedding and pillows
– Use fragrance-free soap to wash the bedding
– Take calcium (600 mg) and magnesium (400 mg) in the evening
– Melatonin*
*Melatonin available from a drugstore is in many cases not strong enough. It is generally considered safe to use melatonin for several weeks. 5-Hydroxytryptophan can be used under the supervision of a doctor. Valerian is also an option for reducing insomnia.
Symptoms of insomnia
- Waking up due to gastrointestinal complaints
- Restless legs syndrome or muscle cramps may develop due to allergies
- With insomnia, people often wake up tired, resulting in drowsiness, irritability and depression
- Difficulty focusing attention on tasks
- Reduced memory
- Making mistakes
- Being more prone to accidents
- Tension headaches
Tests for insomnia and gastrointestinal complaints
If you have insomnia and gastrointestinal complaints, stool testing through Darmklachten.nl may help. See our recommended test packages and individual modules below.
Causes of insomnia
Insomnia related to the stomach or intestines:
- Food allergies
- Gastrointestinal complaints
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease
- High histamine levels
When you are lying in bed with a clear head and can already feel that you will not be able to fall asleep, there is a good chance that high histamine levels are the cause - Allergies to dust or odors
Other causes of insomnia:
- Looking at a tablet or phone screen before going to sleep
- Working a late shift
- Snoring or a partner who snores
- Apnea
- Jet lag
- Caffeine, nicotine and alcohol
- Chronic pain
- Diseases such as arthritis, cancer, heart failure and lung disease
- Medications, including antidepressants and heart and blood pressure medications
- Aging; insomnia becomes more common with increasing age
- Stressful events can temporarily lead to insomnia.
More information about the tests
- Eosinophil-derived neurotoxin – Biomarker for allergies and an increase in histamine – read more…
- Histamine intolerance – Test for the absence of the enzyme diamine oxidase – read more
- Gut flora analysis – Analysis of part of the gut microbiota – read more…
- Intestinal parasites – Test for infections with intestinal parasites – read more…
About darmklachten.nl
Darmklachten.nl is an initiative of MGlab&Advies, a laboratory specializing in stool testing. …read more
