Studies On Sleep And Health Highlighted In Archives Of Internal Medicine

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Studies On Sleep And Health Highlighted In Archives Of Internal

Medicine

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=52215

Sleep is an integral part of health, and assessment of sleep habits

should be a standard part of medical care, according to an editorial

in the September 18 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of

the JAMA/Archives journals. The issue is devoted to studies of sleep

and health.

" The theme that emerges throughout this issue is that sleep serves as

an indicator of health and quality of life and therefore is highly

and directly relevant to the practice of medicine, " write guest

editor Phyllis C. Zee, M.D., Ph.D., and Fred W. Turek, Ph.D., of

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago.

" Indeed, numerous studies have recently shown that sleep disorders

are often comorbid with a broad range of medical and psychiatric

conditions and also have a negative impact on health, mood and

quality of life, " they continue. " Increasing evidence also points to

a bidirectional relationship between sleep and health; that is, sleep

disturbances contribute to the development of or increase the

severity of various medical and psychiatric disorders, and these same

disorders result in poor sleep quality. "

Research results published in this issue of Archives of Internal

Medicine " further our understanding of the relationship of sleep and

health, " Drs. Zee and Turek write. Studies appearing in this issue

find that:

* Fewer hours of sleep may contribute to poor health in young adults,

according to an international survey of more than 17,000 university

students

* Those in rural areas who sleep fewer hours appear to have a higher

average body mass index

* The immune system may play a role in narcolepsy, a disorder marked

by a sudden and uncontrollable urge to sleep

* Children with chronic illnesses, especially those on ventilators,

tend to have parents with disrupted sleep

* The immune system may be affected by a lack of sleep, altering

blood chemistry in a way that potentially contributes to inflammation

and a variety of diseases

Over the past decade, it has become apparent that voluntarily limited

sleep, as well as sleep disorders such as insomnia and restless legs

syndrome, can negatively affect overall health--a connection

emphasized by the increasing legitimacy of sleep medicine as a

specialty. In addition, medications used to treat a number of

physical and psychiatric disorders can affect sleep, making

evaluation for sleep problems essential for those following such

regimens. " At the very least, assessment of sleep quantity and

quality should be integrated into the routine review of systems, "

Drs. Zee and Turek conclude. " Sleep is an indicator of health, and

sufficient sleep quantity and good quality should be considered as an

essential component of a healthy lifestyle, as much as exercise and

nutrition. "

(Arch Intern Med. 2006; 166:1686-1688.)