Sue\uf1o normal en el ser humano: generalidades

En este art\uedculo se describe el sue\uf1o normal del ser humano. Se explican las caracter\uedsticas que permiten comprender el sue\uf1o del ser humano, sus definiciones electroencefalogr\ue1ficas y sus particularidades generales. Se muestran datos de laboratorio actuariales tanto para la noche 1 como para la noche 2 acompa\uf1ados de una explicaci\uf3n sobre la manera como se recopilaron. Por \ufaltimo se revisan los mecanismos que gobiernan el sue\uf1o y la vigilia. Esta informaci\uf3n es indispensable para comprender las anormalidades que acompa\uf1an a los trastornos del sue\uf1o

Review: Pharmacotherapy of obstructive sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with serious comorbid illnesses and diminished quality of life. At this time, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is the treatment of choice. However, only half of those individuals who accept CPAP are still using it at the end of one year. Furthermore, efficacy for improving self-reported sleepiness appears to be greater for patients with severe sleep apnea and severe sleepiness than other patient groups. Some patients, notwithstanding optimized therapy and therapeutic adherence continue experiencing excessive daytime somnolence. Consequently, other treatment modalities have developed, including oral appliances, surgery and pharmacotherapy. It is widely believed, albeit not empirically demonstrated, that an effective medication to treat OSA would elicit better acceptance and adherence than having to use a machine for many hours on a nightly basis. Nonetheless, paucity of data (i.e. lack of large-scale randomized controlled trials), variability of perceived and actual benefits, and adverse side-effects of the drugs thus far tested have prevented the use of pharmacotherapy until now. In this paper we review the outcome data from published trials designed to evaluate efficacy and safety of various medications proposed for treating obstructive sleep apnea

Sleep disorders and their management in patients with COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a prevalent progressive condition that adversely affects quality of life and sleep. Patients with COPD suffer from variety of sleep disorders including insomnia, sleep disordered breathing and restless leg syndrome. The sleep disorders in COPD patients may stem from poor control of primary disease or due to side effects of pharmacotherapy. Thus, optimization of COPD therapy is the main step in treating insomnia in these patients. Further, pharmacotherapy of sleep disorders may result in respiratory depression and related complications. Therefore, clear understanding of respiratory physiology during transition from wakefulness to sleep and during various stages of sleep plays an important role in therapies that are recommended in patients with significant airway obstruction. In this publication, we review respiratory physiology as it relates to sleep and discuss sleep disorders and their management in patients with COPD