Our biological clock helps regulate many regenerative pathways in our body and is closely aligned with our sleep-wake cycle. Disruption of this cycle affects our health through increased risk of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, dementia, and accelerated aging.
Changes in our breathing pattern during sleep, specifically sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), is an important cause of sleep-wake cycle disruption, along with insomnia and inadequate sleep. The most common type of SDB is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), commonly referred to as “sleep apnea.” It is well-established that SDB can accelerate age-related decline in health.
Believe it or not, disruption in sleep can also affect how our skin ages. During youth, the human face is closer to an idealized proportionality. As we age, the structural integrity that helps to define the ideal proportionality changes and contributes to an aged appearance. Disruption in our sleep-wake cycle can accelerate how the skin ages.
Written by: Avinesh S Bhar, MD, a Sleep specialist in Texas