A 2005 poll in the journal "Chest" indicates that 26% of the population proves at risk for sleep-disordered breathing. The most common type of difficulty is called "obstructive sleep apnea." An apnea is a brief cessation of breathing which often occurs during sleep. Snoring and gasping are symptoms of apnea.
According to a 2009 review in "Health Technology Assessment," the most effective treatment for sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). This therapy requires a special machine and a respiratory mask worn during sleep. However, other, more obscure, treatments have proved successful as well.
Hypnotic Medications
Drugs used to help manage sleep disorders are known as "hypnotic medications". A 2006 paper in "Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews" looked at the many drugs tested on sleep-apnea patients. Of these medications, intranasal fluticasone shows the most promise. A 2001 report in the "Journal of Pediatrics" indicates that this topical corticosteroid reduced the number of apneas in children. According to a 2010 experiment in the "Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine," the combination of pseudoephedrine and domperidone works effectively in adults.
Dental Devices
A dental device called the "mandibular protruding device" may help prevent the apneas commonly occurring in sleep. A series of experiments have tested this removable device and shown it to be effective. A 2003 follow up in "Sleep and Breathing" indicates that 90% of patients reported better sleep while using the device. The oral appliance had an immediate impact and these improvements remained throughout 2 years of use.
Nasal Lubricants
A 1998 report in the "American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine" reveals that nasal lubricants prove effective in sleep apnea. Topical application of a lubricant to the soft tissues in nose and throat reduced arousals caused by sleep apnea. These results suggest that surface tension in the airway plays an important role in sleep apnea and that substances, which reduce tension, provide effective treatments.
Electrical Currents
A 1996 study in the "Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry" tested the effects of electrical stimulation on sleep apnea. In this experiment, seven patients slept with a special device attached to their oral palate. A small current was then applied to the device during sleep. This stimulation reduced snoring without causing arousal.
Magnetic Therapies
The application of magnetic fields to various parts of the body may facilitate healing. Two case reports have addressed "biomagnetic therapy" in sleep apnea patients. A 1997 report in the "Wisconsin Medical Journal" shows that magnets were not an effective treatment option for obstructive sleep apnea. In addition, a 2004 report in "Sleep & Breathing" reveals a similar ineffectiveness of magnetic therapy.
References
- "Chest"; Prevalence of symptoms and risk of sleep apnea in the US population: Results from the national sleep foundation sleep in America 2005 poll; D. M. Hiestand et al.; September 2006
- "Health Technology Assessment"; Continuous positive airway pressure devices for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea-hypopnoea syndrome: A systematic review and economic analysis; C. McDaid et al.; January 2009
- "Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews"; Drug therapy for obstructive sleep apnoea in adults; I. Smith et al.; April 19, 2006
- "Journal of Pediatrics"; Efficacy of fluticasone nasal spray for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea; R. T. Brouillette; June 2001
- "Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine"; Pharmacological treatment of obstructive sleep apnea with a combination of pseudoephedrine and domperidone; A. Larrain et al.; April 15, 2010
