Anyone who's read this blog for a while is probably aware that Jack's TBI (in the late 80's) caused numerous other conditions, including sleep apnea. That's why his TBI blog sometimes cover seemingly non-related topics. It's like two degrees of separation around here -- they're all related through Jack.

Here's some news on head injuries and sleep disorders:

Science Daily — A mild head injury can increase your chance of developing a sleep disorder, according to a study published in the April 3, 2007, issue of Neurology®, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Researchers say these findings highlight the need for improved diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders in mild traumatic brain injury patients who complain of insomnia.

"As many as 40 to 65 percent of people with mild traumatic brain injury complain of insomnia," said study author Liat Ayalon, PhD, with the University of California, San Diego. "This is concerning since sleeping problems may exacerbate other brain injury symptoms such as headache, emotional distress, and cognitive impairment, making the rehabilitation process much harder."

Read entire article here.

Labels: insomnia, sleep apnea, TBI, traumatic brain injury