수면정신생리

수면정신생리 (20권1호 10-14)

Sleep Disturbance and Cancer

수면 장애와 암

Ban, Woo Ho;Lee, Sang Haak;

Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, College of Medicine;Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, College of Medicine;

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.14401/KASMED.2013.20.1.010

Abstract

Sleep disturbances are commonly encountered problems in cancer patients. Sleep has a role in maintenance of immunity, metabolism, and quality of life but little has been known about the prevalence, risk factors, and effects on prognosis of sleep disturbances in patients with cancer. Also little attention has been made on proper assessment and management of sleep disorders in these patients. Recently, there have been some reports that sleep disorders are related with development of many cancers such as breast, colorectal, prostate, and endometrial cancers. An intermittent hypoxia and a disruption of circadian rhythm are considered as one of the possible mechanisms of cancer developments. More aggressive evaluation and meticulous management of sleep disturbances in cancer patients are essential to improve quality of life as well as prognosis.

Keywords

Sleep disorder;Cancer;Hypoxia;Circadian rhythm;