Our Sleep Apnea Blog | I Hate CPAP

An interesting study in Sleep, the Journal of Sleep and Sleep disorder Research compares the effects on daytime sleepiness of experimental awakenings from slow wave sleep in different age groups. Experimental reductions in slow wave sleep (SWS)lead to increases in daytime sleepiness (measured by MSLT) but normal age related declies in Slow Wave Sleep seen in health aging do not increase daytime sleepiness.

The article concludes that "age-related declines inSWS and reduction in daytime sleep propensity may reflect a lessening in homeostatic sleep requirement." "Healthy adults without sleep disorders can expect to be less sleepy during the daytime than young adults."

Older adults frequently complain of sllep disruptions, early morning wakening, wakening not refreshed, daytime sleepiness, and daytime napping. According to this study older adults with healthy sleep should not be subject to daytime tiredness so the question is are they tired due to poor sleep, sleep apnea or other health related disturbances. Daytime tiredness can be considered not a normal consequence of aging but a sign of loss of good sleep. The percentage of Slow Wave Sleep declines with age but should not cause problems of tiredness in otherwise healthy older adults.

Older adults with excessive daytime sleepiness, napping or other signs of excessive daytime sleepiness should be evaluated for sleep disorders and/or disturbed sleep. These symptoms should not be written off as normal consequences of aging. Better sleep will result in a better quality of life for older adults.

Labels: aging, alertness, healthy, insomnia, sleepiness, slow wave sleep

Control of metabolism is closely tied to the quality of sleep. Patients who find it very difficult to lose weight should consider being evaluated for sleep disorders. Poor sleep can cause weight gain and make weight loss all but impossible.

There are many mechanisms for these metabolic changes. Growth Hormone is produced primarily during our first period of Delta Sleep. If our sleep is disturbed from snoring, apnea or other causes at this crucial time production of Growth Hormone (GH) can be decreased of eliminated. In adults GH is responsible for converting fat to muscle.

Other hormones affected by sleep include insulin, cortisol, leptin and grehlin.

Insulin determines sugsr metabolism and poor control can cause weight gain and excessive hunger. Cortisol is a stress hormone and eating is freuently used to control stress when cortisol is not maintained at proper levels. Leptin and Grehli control hunger and satiet, both the desire to eat and the relief of hunger.

Patients with sleep apnea have less oxygen and metabolism is disturbed by oxygen desaturation.

Sleep apnea, Insomnia and insufficient sleep can all contribute to weight gain and make weight loss difficult or impossible.

Sleep apnea is dangerous not just because of cardiovascular consequences but also due to hormonal disturbances that frequently are caused by sleep disordered breathing.

Patient Response: The word Insomnia originated from the Latin word Insomis meaning sleepless. To put it in a better way it is a condition where one is unable to obtain sufficient sleep. For me Insomnia meant feeling stressed, lost, sad and feeling worthless.

Labels: Gurnee, hormone, insomnia, severe sleep apnea, weight loss