For many, the weekend is a time to step back from work and enjoy yourself. Late nights, drinks, day-trips – the body clock has to quickly adapt to this two-day change.
However, a recent study, published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, has found that obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is exacerbated at the weekend.
A known cause of dry mouth that also increases the risk of cardiovascular problems, OSA can have a major impact on both oral and overall health. Afflicted patients will have complete pauses in their breathing, relaxing the throat and back muscles and narrowing the airways. This leads to snoring, disrupting the sleep cycles of both the patient and their partner.
The study used sleep sensors under the mattresses to track heart rate, snoring and OSA. The results showed that moderate to severe breathing interruptions were 18% higher on Saturdays. The two demographics most affected were men and people under the age of 60.
Whilst no direct explanation was found, Professor Danny Eckert, co-author of the research as Flinders University, Australia, had a logical explanation: “People tend to drink more on the weekend. They tend to smoke more.” These exacerbate the severity of OSA. Irregular sleeping patterns may also mean that people are less likely to use devices to manage the condition at the weekend.
Because of the health and safety implications of OSA, a greater awareness of the condition’s variability throughout the week is vital. But treating it is still a challenge. Ryan Chin Taw Cheong, a consultant ENT and sleep surgeon in London, highlighted the difficulty the study poses: “With the best intentions, we can try to treat [OSA patients] medically. But if they’re consuming lots of alcohol or smoking heavily, whatever we’re doing as medical professionals will just be a drop in the ocean.”
Alongside the use of oral appliances and CPAP machines, patients with OSA can manage the symptoms in several ways. Maintaining a regular sleep schedule, avoiding alcohol before bed, quitting smoking and sleeping on your side can reduce the severity of the condition. And most importantly – take it easier at the weekends!
>Since you’re here, why not read about how you can cut health risks by walking 7,000 steps a day?
Main image credit: Unsplash
