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Sleep and the ventilatory response to resistive loading in normal men
L Wiegand1, C W Zwillich, D P White
1Department of Medicine, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey 17033.
Journal of Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)
|March 1, 1988
Summary
Normal men show impaired breathing control during sleep when faced with airway resistance. This study reveals that the body poorly compensates for increased inspiratory resistance during non-rapid-eye-movement and rapid-eye-movement sleep, leading to reduced ventilation.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Respiratory Physiology
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Upper airway resistance naturally increases during sleep.
- This increase can lead to reduced ventilation during sleep.
- The body's ability to compensate for this resistance is crucial for maintaining adequate breathing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the ventilatory response to external inspiratory resistive loads during wakefulness, NREM sleep, and REM sleep.
- To determine if inadequate compensation for resistive loads contributes to sleep hypoventilation.
- To compare the effects of acute and sustained resistive loading on breathing.
Main Methods:
- Seven healthy adult males were studied.
- External inspiratory resistive loads were applied during wakefulness, NREM sleep, and REM sleep.
- Ventilatory responses, including minute ventilation (VI) and timing, were measured.
Main Results:
- Ventilation was well-maintained during wakefulness with resistive loading.
- During NREM and REM sleep, resistive loads caused significant reductions in ventilation.
- This decline was due to reduced inspiratory flow and inadequate adjustments in inspiratory duration.
Conclusions:
- The respiratory system in normal men exhibits poor compensation for increased upper airway resistance during sleep.
- Inadequate load compensation during sleep contributes to the normal decline in ventilation observed during sleep.
- These findings support the hypothesis linking upper airway resistance to sleep hypoventilation.