Sleep structure

Dijk, D. J. Czeisler, C. A. (1995). Contribution of the circadian pacemaker and the sleep homeostat to sleep propensity, sleep structure, electroencephahc slow waves, and sleep spindle activity in humans. J. Neurosci. 15, 3526-38. 

The effects of acute systemic dexamethasone administration on sleep structure have been investigated. Dexamethasone caused significant increases in REM latency, the percentage time spent awake, and the percentage time spent in slow-wave sleep. There were also significant reductions in the percentage time spent in REM sleep and the number of REM periods (SEDA-21, 413 97). 

Using the MSLT as an objective laboratory assessment of the clinical symptom of sleepiness, as well as abnormal sleep structure, has greatly facilitated the diagnosis, differentiation, and treatment of various disorders of excessive daytime somnolence (EDS). A brief review of its applications is described below. 

Davidson JR, Radomski MWM, Heslegrave RJ, Angus RG, Montelpare WJ. Sleep structure of a nap following 40 hours of sleep deprivation and its relation to performance upon awakening. Sleep Res 1986 15 213. 

Donath F, Quispe S, Diefenbach K, et al. Critical evaluation of the effect of valerian on sleep structure and sleep quality. Pharmacopsychiatry 2000 33 47-53. 

In contrast, hypnotic doses of benzodiazepines may worsen sleep-related breathing disorders by adversely affecting control of the upper airway muscles or by decreasing the ventilatory response to CO2. The latter effect may cause hypoventilation and hypoxemia in some patients with severe COPD, although benzodiazepines may improve sleep and sleep structure in some instances. In patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), hypnotic doses of benzodiazepines may exaggerate the impact of apneic episodes on alveolar hypoxia, pulmonary hypertension, and cardiac ventricular load. Caution should be exercised with patients who snore regularly partial airway obstruction may be converted to OSA under the influence of these drugs. 

F. Donath, S. Quispe, et al., Critical Evaluation of the Effect of Valerian Extract on Sleep Structure and Sleep Quality. Pharmacopsychiatry 33 (2000) 47-53. 

Respiratory pattern changes from wakefulness to almost wakefulness and during the different stages of sleep. Thus, at least theoretically, breathing sound analysis using smartphones can be used to evaluate sleep and sleep structure. 

Accurate instantaneous HR is needed in order to assess sleep and sleep structure and fragmentation as well as stress at night. Presently all wrist-wom HR monitors do not provide instantaneous HR signal, but one hopes that this limitation will be overcome soon to be one of the available improved technologies. An example of graphic nightly data processed by SleepRate appears in Figure 8.1. 

MyZeo Headband EEC Detailed sleep structure Smart alarm, sleep education iOS http //www.myzeo.com/... 

Sleep Cycle Smartphone Motion Sleep structure Smart alarm iOS, Android http //www.sleep)cycle.com/... 

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