Reduce breathing pauses and improve sleep quality in people with obstructive sleep apnea, with researchers from the University of Gothenburg playing a key role in the work. The results suggest a potential medication based option for patients who are unable to tolerate breathing masks. The findings, published in The Lancet, are based on a study of 298 individuals with moderate to severe sleep apnea. About one quarter of the participants received a placebo, while the rest were treated with subtheme at different dose levels. The researchers reported that patients given the higher doses of subtheme experienced up to a 47 percent reduction in breathing interruptions during sleep and showed improved oxygen levels compared with those taking placebo. The drug appears to act by stabilizing the body’s breathing regulation and boosting respiratory drive, which lowers the chance that the upper airway will collapse during sleep. Most of the side effects observed during the trial were mild and temporary. Sleep apnea occurs when the upper airways collapse during sleep, causing repeated breathing pauses, oxygen deprivation, and disrupted sleep. Over time, untreated sleep apnea increases the risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Although the condition is common, there is still no drug that treats the underlying cause. The standard treatment – continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) – is highly effective but difficult for many to tolerate. Up to half of all patients discontinue CPAP within a year, as the mask can feel uncomfortable or disturb sleep.
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Managing snoring and sleep challengesleep and sleep managementsleep and stress managementSleep Disorders
New Pill Could Finally Treat Sleep Apnea Without A Mask
