Short Sleep Times In Patients With Chronic Medical Diagnoses Are Associated With An Increased Risk Of Obesity - JCSM

A study in the December 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine (JCSM) shows a relationship between short sleep and obesity in patients with chronic medical problems.

The study examined 200 patients at the internal medicine clinic to determine sleep habits, lifestyle characteristics, and medical diagnoses.

According to the results, the subjects with short periods of sleep (less than seven hours) had a significantly increased likelihood of obesity with a body mass index of more than 30 kg/meters2 compared to the reference group of eight to nine hours. It was a U-shaped relationship between obesity and sleep time for women, that women who are not only with short and long periods of sleep were more obese. This relationship was not present in men. Other factors that predict obesity in this clinic patients, the young age (18 to 49 years), not smoking, alcohol consumption, high blood pressure, diabetes and sleep apnea.

"Our study shows that the short sleep times have an association with obesity in adults with chronic medical problems and chronic diseases and related therapies, and / or changes in the physical activities may not the fact that relationship, "said Kenneth Nugent, MD, from Texas Tech University, head of the study. "This study suggests that adults should sleep eight to nine hours per night for optimal weight. Whether the manipulation sleep time in adults will prevent additional weight gain or weight loss easier, is unclear. This issue is a therapeutic studies in which During sleep hygiene weight loss studies. "


A strong relationship between weight and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the neck is thicker, as you gain weight. This increases the level of fat in the back of the throat, narrowing of the airways. With more fat in the throat, your airway is more likely to be blocked.

people with OSA are often obese and have a neck Size of more than 17 inches. Many people with OSA have high blood pressure.

It is estimated that four percent of men and two percent of women have OSA, and millions more remain undiagnosed.

For the first time as an option for the treatment of OSA in the year 1981 continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the most common and effective treatment for OSA. CPAP provides a steady stream of pressurized air to patients through a mask, that while they sleep. This airflow keeps the airway open, preventing pauses in breathing that characterize sleep apnea and restoring normal oxygen.

CPAP Central, a website created by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), the public comprehensive, accurate and reliable information about CPAP. CPAP Central includes expanded information on OSA and CPAP, as OSA diagnosed, the function of CPAP, the benefits of CPAP and an overview of what to expect when beginning CPAP, the position of experts on CPAP and tools for success. CPAP Central also brings up an interactive presentations that the public about the warning signs of OSA.

Those who think they may have OSA, or other sleep disorders, are asked to be with their primary care physician or a sleep specialist.

, JCSM is the official publication of the AASM. It contains publications related to the clinical practice of sleep medicine, including the original manuscripts, such as clinical studies, clinical reviews, comment and debate clinical, medical economic / practice prospects in series and novel / interesting case reported.

more information on OSA is available on the AASM here.


, SleepEducation.com, , a site provided by the AASM, provides information about the various sleep disturbances, the forms of treatment available, recent news on the subject of sleep, sleep disorders studies, which have been conducted and a list of sleep.

http://www.aasmnet.org