Sleep and CKD

You might struggle to fall asleep, wake up during the night, or feel tired even after a full night in bed.

Poor sleep can affect your energy, mood, concentration and overall quality of life. It can also make it harder to manage your other health conditions, such as blood pressure or diabetes.

You’re not alone in experiencing this, and the good news is that small changes can make a big difference.

Why does CKD affect sleep?

There are a few reasons why CKD might make sleep harder:

• Changes in body chemistry: As kidney function declines, it can affect hormones, fluid levels and other balances in your body that impact sleep.
• Itching or restless legs: Some people with CKD experience skin irritation or a crawling feeling in their legs that makes it hard to relax.
• Needing to urinate at night: Known as nocturia, this can interrupt sleep and make it harder to fall back asleep.
• Pain or discomfort: Joint pain or muscle cramps may worsen at night.
• Worry or low mood: It’s natural to feel anxious or down sometimes when living with a long-term condition, and this can affect sleep too.

Tips to improve your sleep

Good sleep isn’t just about how many hours you get; it’s about quality, too. Here are some tips that may help:

• Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day
• Wind down before bed with a calming routine (like reading or gentle stretching)
• Keep your bedroom cool, quiet and dark
• Avoid large meals, caffeine, or screen time close to bedtime
• Try to get some natural daylight during the day and keep active if you can
• Keep a notepad by your bed to write down any worries that are keeping you awake

When to speak to someone

If sleep problems are affecting your daily life or lasting more than a few weeks, speak to your GP or kidney team. They may be able to:

• Check for causes like anaemia, restless legs or high blood pressure
• Offer support for low mood, anxiety or other mental health concerns
• Review your medicines to see if they’re affecting your sleep
• Suggest other treatments or therapies to help

Getting better sleep can make a real difference to how you feel. It’s worth taking small steps to improve it and asking for support when needed.