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Posted by United Press International on April 16, 2010, 5:44 pm
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FUZHOU, China, April 16 (UPI) -- Chinese researchers
suggest eye masks and earplugs may help patients in intensive care
units to sleep.
Researchers at the Fujian Medical University in Fuzhou,
China, led by Xiaoying Jiang, found slumber aids such as masks and
plugs helped 14 healthy volunteers exposed to the sounds and light
levels found in the ICU get a better night's sleep.
"Sleep disruption is common in intensive care unit patients
and has been associated with impaired immune function, decreased
inspiratory muscle endurance, extended mechanical ventilation,
delirium and severe morbidity," Jiang said in a statement.
Jiang and colleagues measured sleep quality over four nights
-- a night to get used to the new environment, a "baseline" night
and the last two nights randomized to be exposed to either a night
of noise and light followed by a night with use of slumber aids or
vice-versa.
"The earplugs and eye masks were applied easily and remained
in place and intact throughout the nights they were used," Jiang
said.
Jiang suggests earplugs and eye masks be routinely used by
intensive care patients.
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