Traffic-related air pollution can interrupt sleep

New York, May 22: Researchers say that people who suffer from long-term traffic-related air pollutants may not be affected by breathing and lung function. Traffic-related air pollution called nitrogen dioxide (NO2) has been found to have less sleep efficiency. Time to bed on bed and light up the bed. Air pollution usually affects only the heart and lung diseases in experienced levels, but also the quality of sleep, "said Martha E. Blelings, MD, MD, assistant professor at Washington University.

"The effect was likely given that air pollution causes upper airway irritation, swelling and congestion, and may also affect the central nervous system and brain areas that control breathing patterns and sleep," Billings added. In the study, nearly 88 per cent participants had lower sleep efficiency and 11 per cent had nearly 60 minutes of wake time in bed. Further, people with the highest levels of NO2 over five years had an almost 60 per cent increased likelihood of having low sleep efficiency compared to those with the lowest NO2 levels. 

People with the highest exposures to small particulates (PM2.5) had a nearly 50 per cent increased likelihood of having low sleep efficiency. Exposure to air pollution is associated with cardiovascular mortality and pulmonary morbidity, including asthma, COPD, lower respiratory infections and possibly sleep apnea. 

Sleep deprivation can be weakened by judgment, depression, heart problems, obesity and a significant reduction in the general wellbeing of a person. For a study presented at the ATS 2017 International Conference, the team analyzed data from 1,863 participants (average age 68). "Boosting air quality can be a way to improve sleep health and reduce health disparities, "the buildings pointed out.