Nasal spray to stimulate nasal receptors may improve sleep apnea
Many people suffer from sleep problems, including light sleep, frequent dreaming, and easy waking. According to surveys, this mainly stems from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which people are unaware of. This is caused by the narrowing or collapse of the upper airway during sleep, so sleeping pills are ineffective. Surgery also has limited improvement for sleep apnea, making it a very tricky condition. Fortunately, there may now be a ray of hope. Flinders University in Australia has published research on a nasal spray that can expand the airway and effectively improve sleep apnea.
Interesting Engineering reported that the lead researcher of the study, Professor Danny Eckert, Director of the FHMRI Sleep Laboratory at Flinders University, said: "OSA is one of the most common sleep-related breathing disorders, affecting an estimated 1 billion people worldwide. If left untreated, it can lead to serious health and safety consequences."
"The current mainstream treatment method is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), which is effective, but not everyone can get used to wearing a ventilator while sleeping. The effects of dental splints and upper airway surgery vary from person to person. That's why we need new treatments."
"As our understanding of OSA continues to grow, pharmacological improvements are possible."
The new drug is a muscle relaxant administered in the form of a nasal spray. In a study of 12 subjects undergoing OSA treatment, compared to a control group that received only a placebo, subjects who used the experimental nasal spray maintained open airways throughout the night and reported improved sleep quality.
"The drug we tested targets specific receptors on the surface tissue of the upper airway, making those receptors more likely to trigger them to activate surrounding muscles, keeping the airway open during sleep. Although there may be a long way to go in clinical testing, our research shows that targeting the message of airway receptors to improve airway muscle collapse is clearly the right direction for treating OSA."
Original text:
https://www.chinatimes.com/realtimenews/20221213000016-260408?chdtv