A study conducted in mice by researchers from Boston (USA) and published in naturemedicine made it possible to measure the impact of lack of sleep chronicle on painful stimuli. During this study, researchers also looked at the effects of common pain relievers (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug and morphine) on pain sensitivity and compared them to the effects of wake-promoting drugs (modafinil) to those of caffeine.
5 days of sleep deprivation increases pain sensitivity
At the start of the study, the mice were deprived of sleep for periods of 12 to 6 hours for 5 consecutive days. Throughout these periods of wakefulness, the researchers monitored their sleepiness, stress levels and tested their sensitivity to pain. The study revealed a strong relationship between sleep deprivation and pain sensitivity : “We found that 5 consecutive days of moderate sleep deprivation can significantly exacerbate pain sensitivity in healthy mice” says Dr. Chloé Alexandre, lead author of the study.
But the most astonishing finding is that the most common painkillers seemed to have no efficacy in alleviating the pain induced by sleep deprivation. In contrast, caffeine and modafinil were successful in reducing this hypersensitivity to pain.
The researchers say their findings may pave the way for a new type of pain reliever.
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