Elements of Sleep Breathing and Sleep-Deprivation Physiology in the Context of Athletic Performance

This review summarizes sleep deprivation, breathing regulation during sleep, and the outcomes of its destabilization. Breathing as an automatically regulated task consists of different basic anatomic and physiological parts. As the human body goes through the different stages of sleep, physiological changes in the breathing mechanism are present. Sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome, are often associated with sleep-disordered breathing and sleep deprivation. Hypoxia and hypercapnia coexist with lack of sleep and undermine multiple functions of the body (e.g., cardiovascular system, cognition, immunity). Among the general population, athletes suffer from these consequences more during their performance. This concept supports the beneficial restorative effects of a good sleeping pattern.