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Increased Sleep Time Reduces Pain - ApneaNews - 02-27-2013

Increasing Sleep Time Reduces Pain Sensitivity

A new study suggests that extending nightly sleep in mildly sleepy, healthy adults increases daytime alertness and reduces pain sensitivity.

"Our results suggest the importance of adequate sleep in various chronic pain conditions or in preparation for elective surgical procedures," said Timothy Roehrs, PhD, the study's principal investigator and lead author. "We were surprised by the magnitude of the reduction in pain sensitivity, when compared to the reduction produced by taking codeine."

The study, appearing in the December issue of the journal SLEEP, involved 18 healthy, pain-free, sleepy volunteers. They were randomly assigned to 4 nights of either maintaining their habitual sleep time or extending their sleep time by spending 10 hours in bed per night. Objective daytime sleepiness was measured using the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT), and pain sensitivity was assessed using a radiant heat stimulus.

Results show that the extended sleep group slept 1.8 hours more per night than the habitual sleep group. This nightly increase in sleep time during the four experimental nights was correlated with increased daytime alertness, which was associated with less pain sensitivity.

In the extended sleep group, the length of time before participants removed their finger from a radiant heat source increased by 25%, reflecting a reduction in pain sensitivity. The authors report that the magnitude of this increase in finger withdrawal latency is greater than the effect found in a previous study of 60 mg of codeine.

According to the authors, this is the first study to show that extended sleep in mildly, chronically sleep-deprived volunteers reduces their pain sensitivity. The results, combined with data from previous research, suggest that increased pain sensitivity in sleepy individuals is the result of their underlying sleepiness.

Fair use from:
http://www.sleepreviewmag.com/all-news/18240-increasing-sleep-time-reduces-pain-sensitivity




RE: Increased Sleep Time Reduces Pain - zimlich - 02-27-2013

It's interesting. It is such a small study and it doesn't consider chronic pain which so many of us older folks have from injuries and arthritis.


RE: Increased Sleep Time Reduces Pain - Bompa - 02-28-2013

I have been attending a "Mindfulness Solution to Pain" Clinic now for a couple of years. I suffer from Sciatica, Arthritis in my knees, hips ,lower back and shoulders, along with Spinal Stenosis. We manage our pain through Meditation, not the Yoga type. During the sleep cycle we go through the "Restorative Sleep Period" a.k.a. REM sleep.
If we can improve our REM period our pain does lessen through the day.
I'm starting to get long-winded so I'll leave it at that.
Since I started CPAP Therapy my restotative sleep has increased, therefore my pain has lessened.
Sleep-well


RE: Increased Sleep Time Reduces Pain - PaulaO2 - 02-28-2013

I also have done meditation exercises to cope with pain.

But I've never really thought that a good night's sleep gives me less pain during the day or I am better able to deal with it. Too many factors go into how good or bad a day I have.


RE: Increased Sleep Time Reduces Pain - Ugly - 02-28-2013

(02-27-2013, 09:14 AM)ApneaNews Wrote: Increasing Sleep Time Reduces Pain Sensitivity

A new suggests that extending nightly sleep in mildly sleepy, healthy adults increases daytime alertness and reduces pain sensitivity.

With the amount of time I sleep I should be totally immune to pain by now. Sorry, it's not that simple.



RE: Increased Sleep Time Reduces Pain - Sleepster - 03-01-2013

Better sleep has cured my chronic headaches. I'm a true believer.