Sleep And Longevity

There is no aspect of our minds and bodies that sleep does not touch. A good night’s rest is tantamount to maintaining a healthy brain, mind, cardiovascular system, immune system and metabolism. Sleep is one of the most important things we can do each day to keep ourselves healthy and happy into old age. So what happens when we can’t get either the quality or quantity of sleep that we need for optimal health?

Article Highlights: -Sleep plays a very important role in regulating health -Sleep disorders are consistently correlated with poorer health outcomes -Having comorbid insomnia and obstructive sleep apnoea result in a 100% increased risk of hypertension (high blood pressure), 70% increased risk of cardiovascular disease and 47% increased risk of death from all-causes. -Ensuring restful and rejuvenating sleep every night is one of the most powerful things one can do to ensure good health and a long life.

There are over 80 recognised sleep disorders including the more common disorders such as obstructive sleep apnoea to insomnia. These disorders affect sleep in different ways; some are more psychological in nature, and other are characterised by physical aspects of one’s anatomy. Both disrupt the architecture of sleep as well as decreasing the amount of time one spends in deep and rejuvenate sleep. When these conditions become chronic and are left unaddressed and untreated, they can become cardinal contributors of a variety of health conditions including depression, anxiety, metabolic disorders including type 2 diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases and cardiovascular disease. Poor sleep is universally associated with worse health outcomes and decreased life expectancy. Some of the more common and debilitating sleep disorders include obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and insomnia. Obstructive sleep apnoea is characterised by snoring and excessive daytime drowsiness as a result of disordered breathing and choking during sleep. Insomnia is a condition involving sleep onset latency, where individuals who are suffering from the condition find it extremely difficult to fall asleep. These sleep disorders can be devastating on their own, however, many people suffer with both of these conditions simultaneously.

A recent study published in the European Respiratory Journal has examined the relationship between comorbid obstructive sleep apnoea and insomnia on cardiovascular risk factors and death from all-causes. The researchers studied 5236 individuals over 15 years. Their results revealed that those with comorbid insomnia and sleep apnoea (COMISA) had a 100% increased risk of hypertension (high blood pressure), 70% increased risk of cardiovascular disease and 47% increased risk of death from all-causes. This relationship is highly robust and statistically significant, supporting an ever growing body of work that reveals the importance of sleep for health and longevity. These increases in risk do not appear to be trivial, and suggest that poor sleep is likely to play a major role in modern chronic disease epidemics.

If you suspect that either you or your partner may have sleep disordered breathing, consult your family doctor and/or a Respiratory/Sleep specialist. If clinically necessary, they may recommend having a sleep study, where electrodes are attached to your body to monitor your sleep. Sleep studies can determine the presence of a sleep disorder, its severity, and provide guidance regarding treatment options. The most common treatments for obstructive sleep apnoea include CPAP treatment, Mandibular Advancement Splints (MAS), positional sleep devices and weight loss. If left untreated, obstructive sleep apnoea can increase one’s risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, hypertension and depression.

Sove CPAP Clinic is a leading, independent and comprehensive provider of Respiratory & Sleep Disorder services with a network of clinics nationwide. We have a comprehensive team of Respiratory & Sleep Physicians and CPAP Consultants and provide eligible patients with access to bulk billed sleep studies, Respiratory/Sleep specialist consultations and sleep apnoea treatment services.* Speak with your doctor or contact Sove CPAP Clinic on 1300 76 29 39 or email info@thecpapclinic.com.au

• Medicare criteria apply Original Article: Lechat, B., et al. (2021). Co-morbid insomnia and obstructive sleep apnoea is associated with all-cause mortality. The European respiratory journal, 2101958.