Smokers found 4X more likely to be sleepy than nonsmokers

William Atkins
Thursday, 07 February 2008 20:11

Science - Health

The researchers felt they had a better objective measure for their tests because they used quantitative measures for their study—they used traditional analysis of the electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns and non-traditional power spectral analysis (mathematically analyzing frequencies) of the EEG.

Researchers comment that the primary reason why smokers get a less restful night’s sleep is that the stimulating effects of nicotine may cause smokers to experience nicotine withdrawal each night, which may contribute to disturbances in sleep.

Punjabi states, “It is possible that smoking has time-dependent effects across the sleep period. Smokers commonly experience difficulty falling asleep due to the stimulating effects of nicotine. As night evolves, withdrawal from nicotine may further contribute to sleep disturbance.” [ScienceDaily.com: "Smoking Linked To Sleep Disturbances"]

In their study, 22.5% of smokers reported lack of restful sleep. Nonsmokers, on the other hand, only reported 5.0% of a lack of restful sleep—a rate that was over four times better than the smoking group.

They also found that the largest difference in sleep differences occurred at the beginning of sleep. They state that such results support previous studies, which conclude that nicotine has the strongest effect on subjects early in sleep periods.

Their conclusion, from their paper’s abstract, states, “Cigarette smokers manifest disturbances in the sleep EEG that are not evident in conventional measures of sleep architecture. Nicotine in cigarette smoke and withdrawal from it during sleep may contribute to these changes and the subjective experience of nonrestorative sleep.”

The researchers state that their study could help smokers to more easily stop smoking because of better understanding of what goes on during sleep and nicotine’s role. Primarily, smokers may be not allowed to feel rested in the morning (due to nicotine), making it even more difficult to continue the process of ending the habit of smoking.

Further research will hopefully help smokers get a better night's sleep, feel rested in the morning, and to make a stronger battle to become free of cigarettes for the rest of their lives.