Autonomic modulation of the cardiovascular system during sleep
Article Abstract:
Sleep's effect on the cardiovascular system appears to be more than just the depression of the sympathetic nervous system. Previous studies have found that blood pressure, heart rate and resistance to blood flow all drop during the slow-wave stages of sleep and then rise during the rapid-eye-movement (REM) stages of sleep. A recent study confirmed this observation and further reported that during slow-wave sleep, sympathetic activity dropped to less than half of that seen during wakefulness, but during REM sleep jumped to levels higher than those during wakefulness. The observed reductions in blood pressure, heart rate and sympathetic activity during slow-wave sleep may lower the workload of the heart and explain the infrequent incidence of heart attack and stroke during sleep. Conversely, the elevated activity seen during REM sleep suggests this stage may offer no protection against cardiovascular events. Sleep deprivation and use of barbiturates may increase REM sleep and should probably be avoided in patients with heart disease.
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 1993
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Sympathetic-nerve activity during sleep in normal subjects
Article Abstract:
Activation of the sympathetic nervous system during rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep may initiate events like heart attack and stroke in patients with cardiovascular disease. Little is known about the relation between sleep and the increased incidence of cardiovascular events associated with the early morning hours. Sympathetic nerve activity, heart beat and blood pressure were measured in 8 healthy people while sleeping and while awake. On average, heart rate and blood pressure fell during deep non-REM sleep, but rose during REM sleep to the levels seen in wakefulness. The sympathetic nervous system, which was relatively inactive during deep sleep, became more active during REM sleep than during wakefulness. REM sleep is most pronounced right before waking, and the increased bursts in sympathetic nerve activity may play a role in triggering cardiovascular events.
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 1993
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Day-night pattern of sudden death in obstructive sleep apnea
Article Abstract:
Polysomnograms and the death certificates of 112 Minnesota residents, who had undergone polysomnography and died suddenly from cardiac causes between July 1987 and July 2003, are reviewed. The study concluded that people with obstructive sleep apnea have a peak in sudden death from cardiac causes during the sleeping hours.
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 2005
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
- Abstracts: From cell populations to human populations, cardiovascular research examines possibilities. Conference seeks to provide basis for prostate cancer guidance message
- Abstracts: Anatomy of a champion. Five-star training. Right from the start: today's the day to begin working toward the fit body you want!
- Abstracts: Keeping in touch. Political implications of the named-nurse concept. The value of auditing tracheostomy care
- Abstracts: What makes a person. Community nurses take on the task of selling themselves. A test of ethics
- Abstracts: Metabolic synergy: choosing the right foods is just the beginning of diet dilemma. 72 and going strong: incredible Bob Delmonteque proves that age is just a number