Abstract
In order to analyze the adverse effect of disturbed sleep in peptic ulcer patients, the following study was performed.I) The sleeping habit was investigated in peptic ulcer patients consisting of 91 subjects with gastric ulcer and 88 with duodenal ulcer and the results were compared with control group consisting of 328 healthy workers and clerks of various ages and both sexes. The average bed time hour of gastric and duodenal ulcer patients was significantly later than that of the control group. The patient group required longer time to fall asleep, awoke and dreamed more frequently than the control group, suggesting light sleep in peptic ulcer patients.II) The sleeping habit was examined in peptic ulcer patients who had been hospitalized in our institute and the results were compared between the recurrent group and the non-recurrent group. In both duodenal and gastric ulcer patients, the recurrent group went to bed later than the non-recurrent group.The present study showed that the disturbance of sleep was contributory to ulcer occurrence. There may be three mechanisms regarding this problem. 1. The effect of nocturnal gastric function caused by disturbed sleep directly contributes to production of peptic ulcers. 2. The emotional stress which disturbes sleep also is contributory to peptic ulcer occurrence. 3. The emotional stress which is derived from disturbed sleep produces peptic ulcers. It is difficult to differentiate clearly these three mechanisms which work simultaneously on the occurrence of peptic ulcers. Sound sleep brings about comfortable emotions and plays a most important role in the treatment and prevention of peptic ulcers.
