It is a known fact that genes, overweight, diabetes, and age belong to the risk factors for apoplexy. In a study, neurologist Dirk Hermann, University Hospital Essen, Germany, and a Swiss colleague examined a further risk factor: sleep disturbances.
The study was published in the journal “Neurology” and revealed that too much sleep, sleeplessness and breathing stops (sleep apnoea) may lead to an increased risk for apoplexy. After a stroke, sleep disturbances frequently occur. Out of this reason, according to Hermann the patients should be tested on what was made too little resp. what was paid too little attention to so far. In case a stroke patient experiences sleep disturbances, the risk of suffering another stroke increases. What’s more, after a stroke the brain needs sufficient sleep to be able to develop new neuronal contacts.
For reaching a restful and healthy sleep, Hermann and his colleague advise to do without alcohol and caffeine in the evening. Furthermore, only take light meals in the evening and do no strenuous sport too late.
In the scientific journal “Der Nervenarzt” (06/2016) Geert Mayer, Director of the Hephata-Clinic, Schwalmstadt-Treysa, Germany, mentions that before suffering a stroke, often sleep related breathing disturbances occur. According to Mayer, these breathing disturbances might be one of several risk factors for an apoplexy or appear for the first time in the event of an acute stroke.
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Source: Study Role of sleep-disordered breathing and sleep-wake disturbances for stroke and stroke recovery (http://www.neurology.org/content/early/2016/08/03/WNL.0000000000003037)
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