Breathing during sleep in normal subjects
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Updated: Oct 13, 2026

A Model to Simulate Clinically Relevant Hypoxia in Humans
Published on: December 22, 2016
Abstract:
Despite considerable data, little is certain about changes in breathing during sleep, let alone possible mechanisms for these changes. This article reviews methodologic problems, including the definition of the normal subject, the definition of the sleep state, and the effects of instrumentation, and discusses data on respiration during REM and NREM sleep in normal humans. Although the evidence is incomplete, respiration during sleep appears fragile, prone to instability, to upper airway obstruction, to hypoventilation, and to ventilation-perfusion mismatch, jeopardizing the homeostatic function of CO2 output and O2 uptake.
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