OSU researchers have developed a new treatment for central sleep apnea (CSA), a condition that interrupts a person's normal rhythmic breathing cycles during sleep. These non-breathing periods can raise a person's blood pressure, and increase their risk for heart disease, depression and stroke. It can also impair a person's productivity at school or work and increase their risk for accidents due to daytime fatigue.
The pioneering new approach involves implanting a nerve stimulator in the patient's diaphragm. The "robo-respirator" is designed to treat patients with CSA, not obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Here's the difference. In obstructive sleep apnea, airways are blocked and breathing is temporarily stopped. While this can be caused by big tonsils, a short neck or small jaw, it's most often the result of obesity. When muscles relax during sleep, excess weight on the chest, abdomen and neck can cause the muscles to collapse and close off the airway. Because of this, OSA causes severe snoring. CSA, on the other hand, is usually limited to people with heart failure, stroke or brain injuries, which damage parts of the nervous system that controls breathing.
Those with CSA are usually treated with oral appliances to alleviate the obstructions. Sometimes it's a machine that delivers high pressure air through a mask to keep the airways open during sleep. Throat surgery is another option. And, of course, weight loss is usually recommended.
For an added perspective, check out this video:
Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients. Please see more of his blogs and view additional job postings on Beyond.com.
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