Citation

Greenlund IM, Cunningham HA, Tikkanen AL, Bigalke JA, Smoot CA, Durocher JJ, Carter JR. Am. J. Physiol. Heart. Circ. Physiol. 2020; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, American Physiological Society)

DOI

10.1152/ajpheart.00743.2020

PMID

33185112

Abstract

Binge alcohol consumption elicits acute and robust increases of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), yet the impact of evening binge drinking on morning-after MSNA is unknown. The present study examined the effects of evening binge alcohol consumption on polysomnographic sleep and morning-after MSNA. We hypothesized that evening binge drinking (i.e. 4-5 drink equivalent in <2hrs) would reduce sleep quality and increase morning-after blood pressure (BP) and MSNA. Following a familiarization night within the sleep laboratory, twenty-two participants (12 men, 10 women; 25±1 years) were examined after simulated binge drinking or fluid control (randomized, crossover design). Morning MSNA was successfully recorded across both conditions in 16 participants (8 men, 8 women) during a 10-minute baseline and three Valsalva's maneuvers (VM). Binge drinking reduced rapid eye movement (REM) sleep (15±1 vs. 20±1%; p=0.003), increased stage II sleep (54±1 vs. 51±1%; p=0.002), increased total urine output (2.9±0.2 vs. 2.1±0.1 liters; p<0.001), but did not alter morning-after urine specific gravity. Binge drinking increased morning-after heart rate (65 (54-72) vs. 58 (51-67) beats/min; p=0.013), but not resting BP or MSNA. Binge drinking elicited greater sympathoexcitation during VM (38±3 vs. 43±3 bursts/min, p=0.036). Binge drinking augmented heart rate (p=0.002), systolic BP (p=0.022) and diastolic (p=0.037) BP reactivity to VM phase IV, and blunted cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity during VM phases II (p=0.028) and IV (p=0.043). In conclusion, evening binge alcohol consumption disrupted REM sleep and morning-after autonomic function. These findings provide new mechanistic insight into the potential role of binge drinking on cardiovascular risk.

Language: en

Keywords

hypertension; ethanol; autonomic activity; baroreflex sensitivity; sleep