| Sleep Disorders |
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SLEEP DEPRIVATION CAUSES AND EFFECTS
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Sleep deprivation is a condition that can be either acute or chronic that is caused by a lack of sufficient sleep. Sleep deprivation will inevitably lead to a condition called excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). EDS affects 4-31% of the population by slowing the process of the brain to responses, decreased reaction time, and reduced accuracy of short-term memory. EDS is also known to affect people's mood, making the person much moodier when they are overtired. This leads to human error and dramatically increases the risk of accidents.
In a recent study that has been performed, employees with EDS had almost double the amount of injuries incurred over a two year period. The percentage increased 50% when the employees worked in a high noise level environment. It is estimated that over 40% of all fatal car accidents are caused by EDS. Some major accidents that have occurred in past history caused by EDS include Three Mile Island,, Chernobyl,New York Ferry crash,and Exxon Valdez.
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EDS's major contributing factor is sleep disorders, which include obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), periodic limb movements (PLMs) and other parasomnias that occur during sleep. To diagnose EDS and the cause of these types of disorders, a person would come to a sleep disorders center for a sleep study. This information will help the doctor to determine your diagnosis and treatment.
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Studies have shown that a good night's sleep usually will take care of all of the problems that come from excessive daytime sleepiness. EDS, as caused by insufficient sleep, is a relatively easy condition to fix. Most of these conditions can be treated with either corrected sleep hygiene, medications, or in some instances, such as OSA, with therapy known as CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure).
In summary, EDS is a relatively easy disorder to treat with the proper diagnosis. Included within this website is what is known as an Epworth Sleepiness Scale. If your score is above 10, you should consult your primary physician for further diagnostic studies. Understanding the sleep process and the evaluation of the sleep disorders will help you take an active and positive role in your own care.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is most common among men, people who are overweight and the middle-aged. However, research shows that children and post-menopausal women may also be at risk.
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EFFECTS OF OSA
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- Blood Pressure - OSA can greatly increase blood pressure during an apnea.
- Pulse - OSA can cause bradycardia during an apnea and then tachycardia after the event.
- O2 Sats - OSA will cause oxygen saturations to drop after an apneic event.
- Weight - OSA can cause a gradual increase in weight due to slowed metabolism and decrease in activity.
- Alertness - OSA can cause a decrease in alertness due to fragmented sleep and poor sleep quality. This can lead to fatigue related motor vehicle and work accidents.
- Mood - OSA can greatly effect mood by disrupting REM stage and from fatigue.
- Headache - OSA can cuase an increase in early morning headaches due to a buildup of CO2.
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Call the Sleep Medicine Center in Kalispell, Montana (406-752-1729) or the Sleep Medicine Center in Whitefish, Montana (406-862-2229) if you have any questions about sleep problems or any information on this page.
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| CONTACT INFORMATION |
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| OFFICE HOURS |
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8:00am - 5:00pm Mon-Fri Sleep Technologist is available for questions
7:00pm - 7:00am Sun-Fri
Call 406-752-1729
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