As a physician who has been dealing with pain since the beginning of my professional life, I have observed that pain is a warning symptom resulting from a root cause. Research also sheds light on the root causes of pain. As one of the causes of pain, sleep disorders necessitate a holistic approach to "sleep" and its consequences.
Why is sleep important?
Many chemicals that will be necessary for our body are usually It is produced during sleep cycles. In this process, growth activity is carried out and the defense, nervous, musculoskeletal and skeletal systems are prepared for the new day. The activities of our organs such as the liver, kidneys, intestines and even the heart slow down. In this way, it is possible for them to rest.
However, unlike organs such as the liver or kidneys, our brain really does work during sleep. The brain, by performing a great activity at night, almost "refreshes" our body and mind.
It turned out that the human immune system and sleep are both related and influenced by each other. Sleep deprivation makes the body susceptible to many infectious agents. As reported by various researchers, the human body's immune system releases immunomodulatory substances in response to infections. Cytokines regulated by sleep affect the immune system. Our capacity to stay healthy is badly affected by the loss of sleep and comfort. Pro-inflammatory cytokines (substances that cause inflammation) constantly increase in cases of severe and continuous sleep loss, such as insomnia, alcoholism, stress, and with aging.
We experience the effects of the climate crisis with strong natural events and increasing temperatures every year. It seems that the climate crisis will cause some changes in the human body as well as environmental changes, water crisis, increases in food diversity. smooth skin temperature microclimates by unconsciously increasing or decreasing their surface area in response
Experimental disruption of thermoregulation causes persistent insomnia.
Experimental studies have shown gradual gradation at ambient temperature in the thermal neutral range (i.e. 27.5°C to 29.5°C). found that a reduction improves sleep quality.
Reducing body temperature more effectively increases deep sleep. Mild heat exposure with an increase in ambient temperature (ie from 26°C to 32°C) results in increased alertness.
Relationship between pain and sleep;
Chronicly painful conditions are often associated with sleep disturbances, namely sleep continuity and changes in sleep structure. Studies show that sleep disorders cause or alter acute and chronic pain. While it is well known that pain disrupts sleep, the relationship between the two has recently become more apparent.
Uncomfortable sleep can also cause emotional distress in the patient's life (fear, anger, disruptions in social life) and even a psychological co-morbidity such as depression. They can trigger the process of becoming chronic in neck and low back pain, or they can occur during illness.
What happens in the body when sleep is disturbed?
* chronic sleep deprivation increases appetite and energy expenditure,
* increases proinflammatory cytokine levels,
* decreases parasympathetic tone, increases sympathetic tone
* raises blood pressure,
* evening cortisol
* raises insulin and blood sugar,
* repeated stress causes structural remodeling of brain regions related to memory and emotions such as the hippocampus, amygdala and prefrontal cortex, resulting in deterioration of memory, causes increased anxiety and aggression.
* Brain regions such as the hippocampus are glucose and insulin sensitive and are susceptible to both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, cognitive impairment and (for type 2 diabetes mellitus) Alzheimer's disease� It is associated with an increased risk of
* With chronic sleep deprivation, memory is impaired by depletion of glycogen stores and increased oxidative stress and free radical production.
* as a result; sleep deprivation is a chronic stressor and the resulting burden can contribute to cognitive problems, which in turn can exacerbate pathways that lead to illness.
Treatment options, relaxation therapy (for example, meditation or progressive muscle relaxation), cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, or combinations thereof. It is an option in pain management because of its intensive and interdisciplinary approach that combines pain management, sleep management, relaxation, cognitive behavioral therapy and physical exercise.
Read: 0
