Sleep effects on respiration

Sleep effects on respiration

Sleep effects on respiration

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Sleep Stages - A Dreamy Descent

Hypnogram of sleep stages and awakenings

  • Sleep Architecture: The predictable cycling between NREM and REM sleep stages, typically 4-5 cycles per night. Visualized on a hypnogram.
  • NREM (Non-Rapid Eye Movement) Sleep: Constitutes 75-80% of total sleep.
    • N1: Transition to sleep; light sleep.
    • N2: Majority of sleep time; features sleep spindles and K-complexes.
    • N3: Slow-wave sleep (SWS); deepest, most restorative stage.
  • REM (Rapid Eye Movement) Sleep: Makes up 20-25% of sleep; associated with dreaming.

⭐ REM sleep is characterized by muscle atonia, which includes most accessory muscles of respiration, making breathing predominantly diaphragmatic.

Physiological Changes - The Sleeping Lung

Overall, minute ventilation ($V_E = V_t \times RR$) decreases during sleep. The pattern of breathing and chemoreceptor sensitivity varies significantly between NREM and REM stages, impacting gas exchange.

ParameterWakefulnessNREM SleepREM Sleep
Minute Ventilation ($V_E$)Normal↓ (stable)↓↓ (irregular)
Tidal Volume ($V_t$)Normal↓↓
Respiratory Rate (RR)NormalRegularIrregular/Variable
Hypercapnic DriveNormal↓↓ (blunted)
Hypoxic DriveNormal↓↓ (blunted)
Upper Airway ResistanceNormal↑↑ (variable)
-   Upper airway muscle (e.g., genioglossus) tone ↓, leading to ↑ resistance.
-   REM sleep features atonia of intercostal muscles, making breathing diaphragm-dependent.

⭐ The ventilatory response to both hypoxia and hypercapnia is most significantly blunted during REM sleep, increasing the risk of desaturation.

Sleep Apnea - When Breathing Stops

Recurrent episodes of apnea (cessation of airflow) or hypopnea (reduced airflow) during sleep, leading to oxygen desaturation.

  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): Most common type. Characterized by upper airway collapse despite persistent respiratory effort.
  • Central Sleep Apnea (CSA): Defined by the absence of respiratory effort, stemming from reduced central nervous system drive.
  • Diagnosis: Polysomnography measures the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI).
    • AHI Severity: Mild 5-15, Moderate 15-30, Severe >30 events/hour.

⭐ In OSA, there is continued (often exaggerated) respiratory effort against an obstructed upper airway, whereas in CSA, both airflow and respiratory effort cease.

📌 Mnemonic: For OSA think 'Obstruction': Effort Present, Airflow Absent.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Polysomnography

Clinical Correlates - The Zzz-Sleuth

  • Polysomnography (PSG): The definitive diagnostic test for sleep-related breathing disorders.
    • Integrates multiple measurements:
      • Electroencephalogram (EEG): Brain waves (sleep staging).
      • Electrooculogram (EOG): Eye movements (REM sleep).
      • Electromyogram (EMG): Muscle tone (atonia in REM).
      • Respiratory airflow/effort & O₂ saturation.
  • Epworth Sleepiness Scale: A questionnaire to quantify daytime sleepiness; a score >10 is considered sleepy.
  • Management:
    • CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure): Provides constant pressure to keep the airway open.
    • BiPAP (Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure): Delivers higher pressure on inhalation and lower pressure on exhalation.

⭐ Polysomnography is the gold standard for diagnosing sleep-related breathing disorders, as it simultaneously measures brain waves (sleep stage), eye movements, muscle activity, respiratory airflow/effort, and oxygen saturation.

Polysomnography setup for sleep respiration study

High-Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • During NREM sleep, minute ventilation due to reduced metabolic rate and chemosensitivity.
  • REM sleep brings irregular, shallow breathing and profound muscle atonia, especially of the upper airway, increasing collapse risk.
  • Ventilatory responses to hypoxia and hypercapnia are significantly blunted, most severely in REM.
  • Sleep induces a state of relative hypoventilation, causing a physiological ↑ in PaCO2.
  • Upper airway resistance increases during all sleep stages.

Practice Questions: Sleep effects on respiration

Test your understanding with these related questions

Which of the following physiologic changes decreases pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR)?

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Flashcards: Sleep effects on respiration

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Stage _____ of non-REM sleep is described as deeper sleep

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Stage _____ of non-REM sleep is described as deeper sleep

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