Sleep and Cannabis

2021 ◽  
pp. 257-276
Author(s):  
Param Dedhia ◽  
Alison Kole

With the rising interest in cannabis, the concept of medicinal cannabis for sleep has quickly grown. The chemistry of cannabis and its medicinal effects are becoming known. Within sleep science, cannabis research has noted a connection to circadian rhythm and sleep staging. Early research has looked at insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, rapid eye movement behavior disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and chronic pain. At this time, there is encouragement for future research based on available studies. However, rigorous studies are needed before the medicinal use of cannabis for sleep can be supported by medical literature. Nevertheless, cannabis is being self-administered, and patients are looking for education. The healthcare provider has a unique opportunity to partner with patients through education and guidance, making it important for medical experts to learn about cannabis.

2018 ◽  
Vol 128 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yin Yiu ◽  
Kathleen M. Tibbetts ◽  
C. Blake Simpson ◽  
Laura A. Matrka

Objectives: The aim of this study is to describe a clinical entity the authors term “Shar Pei larynx,” characterized by redundant supraglottic and postcricoid mucosa that the authors hypothesize coexists in patients with obstructive sleep apnea, laryngopharyngeal reflux, and obesity. By exploring this hypothesis, the authors hope to set the foundation for future research with the goal of identifying whether Shar Pei larynx is a marker for untreated sleep apnea or other diseases. Study Design: Retrospective chart review. Setting: Two tertiary care academic institutions. Methods: Data were collected from a 5-year period by querying for patients described to have “Shar Pei larynx” or “posterior supraglottic and/or postcricoid mucosal redundancy” on laryngoscopic findings. Relevant demographic and clinical characteristics were analyzed, with a focus on associations with obesity, sleep apnea, and laryngopharyngeal reflux. Results: Thirty-two patients were identified with physical findings consistent with Shar Pei larynx. Twenty-six patients (81.3%) were obese; 16 (50%) were morbidly obese. Twenty-two patients (68.8%) either had an existing diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea or were diagnosed on polysomnography performed after initial evaluation. Sixteen patients (50%) had type 2 diabetes mellitus, and 87.5% of these patients were obese. Twenty-eight patients (87.5%) noted histories of reflux, with a median reflux symptom index of 27 of 45. Five patients underwent procedures to reduce mucosal redundancy related to Shar Pei larynx. Conclusions: This pilot study confirms that the majority of patients diagnosed with Shar Pei larynx also had diagnoses of obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, and reflux disease. The demonstrated association is strong enough to warrant further study.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatrice Ragnoli ◽  
Patrizia Pochetti ◽  
Alberto Raie ◽  
Mario Malerba

Sleep-related breathing disorders (SBDs) are characterized by abnormal respiration during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a common SBD increasingly recognized by physicians, is characterized by recurrent episodes of partial or complete closure of the upper airway resulting in disturbed breathing during sleep. OSA syndrome (OSAS) is associated with decreased patients' quality of life (QoL) and the presence of significant comorbidities, such as daytime sleepiness. Similarly to what seen for OSAS, the prevalence of asthma has been steadily rising in recent years. Interestingly, severe asthma (SA) patients are also affected by poor sleep quality—often attributed to nocturnal worsening of their asthma—and increased daytime sleepiness and snoring compared to the general population. The fact that such symptoms are also found in OSAS, and that these two conditions share common risk factors, such as obesity, rhinitis, and gastroesophageal reflux, has led many to postulate an association between these two conditions. Specifically, it has been proposed a bidirectional correlation between SA and OSAS, with a mutual negative effect in term of disease severity. According to this model, OSAS not only acts as an independent risk factor of asthma exacerbations, but its co-existence can also worsen asthma symptoms, and the same is true for asthma with respect to OSAS. In this comprehensive review, we summarize past and present studies on the interrelationship between OSAS and SA, from endo-phenotype to clinical aspects, highlighting possible implications for clinical practice and future research directions.


SLEEP ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A413-A413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rupa Koothirezhi ◽  
Brian Scuteri ◽  
Edmond Roberts ◽  
Sasikumar Kilaikode ◽  
Euil Luther ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 247028972094187
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Marsella ◽  
Katherine M. Sharkey

Over the past 3 decades, significant strides have been made in the field of sleep medicine for women. The impact of sex and gender on sleep health and sleep disorders received little attention in the early 1990s, but driven by policies ensuring inclusion of women in medical research, more recent studies have identified sex differences in sleep and investigated gender differences in sleep disorders. Nevertheless, disparities remain: diagnosis of sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder are often delayed and underdiagnosed in women. Future research should continue to examine how biological sex and identity across the gender spectrum influence sleep health and sleep disorders, allowing for more personalized health care for all patients.


2017 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
pp. 23-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuart J. McCarter ◽  
Erik K. St. Louis ◽  
David J. Sandness ◽  
Ethan J. Duwell ◽  
Paul C. Timm ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 032-038
Author(s):  
D’Souza Steve M ◽  
Yoo Byung S ◽  
Houston Kevin V ◽  
Patel Ankit J ◽  
Parekh Parth J ◽  
...  

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a condition that is associated with cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, and is increasing in prevalence worldwide. Sleep disruptions are commonly seen in NAFLD, and the disease process is associated with sleep disorders, including obstructive sleep apnea, circadian rhythm disorders, and insufficient sleep. The intermittent hypoxia seen in obstructive sleep apnea may contribute to fibrotic changes in the liver. A major component of this linkage may be related to gut microbiome changes. One notable change is increase in Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio, and decrease in flora that ferment fiber into anti-inflammatory short-chain fatty acids. Several therapeutic options exist for NAFLD that target both sleep and NAFLD, including non-pharmacological factors, such as lifestyle modification (mainly diet and exercise). Pharmacological options include melatonin, Vitamin E, thiazolidinediones, and fecal microbiota transplantation. Core tip The pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is closely tied to sleep and circadian rhythm abnormalities, through shared inflammatory pathways and altered metabolism. This review explores the pathogenesis of NAFLD in the context of sleep and circadian abnormalities. The associated inflammatory response is linked to changes in gut-microbiome interactions that contribute to the disease process. Understanding of this linkage has implications for various therapies for disease mitigation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinh Phuc Tran ◽  
Adel Ali Al-Jumaily ◽  
Syed Mohammed Shamsul Islam

Today’s rapid growth of elderly populations and aging problems coupled with the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and other health related issues have affected many aspects of society. This has led to high demands for a more robust healthcare monitoring, diagnosing and treatments facilities. In particular to Sleep Medicine, sleep has a key role to play in both physical and mental health. The quality and duration of sleep have a direct and significant impact on people’s learning, memory, metabolism, weight, safety, mood, cardio-vascular health, diseases, and immune system function. The gold-standard for OSA diagnosis is the overnight sleep monitoring system using polysomnography (PSG). However, despite the quality and reliability of the PSG system, it is not well suited for long-term continuous usage due to limited mobility as well as causing possible irritation, distress, and discomfort to patients during the monitoring process. These limitations have led to stronger demands for non-contact sleep monitoring systems. The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive review of the current state of non-contact Doppler radar sleep monitoring technology and provide an outline of current challenges and make recommendations on future research directions to practically realize and commercialize the technology for everyday usage.


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