Because of the current lifestyle, where prioritizing work over sleep has become a trend, having a sleep disorder is nomore rare. Among these, the most common rest problems are insomnia, restless legs syndrome, narcolepsy, and sleep apnea. For those who are not aware, obstructive sleep apnea refers to a common chronic rest disorder caused by narrowing and obstruction of the airway while sleeping. Due to this, people experience either complete or partial blockage, which further results in apneas, hypopneas, or both.
Sleep apnea affects almost every body part and may result in hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, cardiovascular disease, stroke, or altered immune function. It also increases the risk of getting into an accident, which can put your life in danger. But, the situation is not entirely hopeless. With the advancement of medical science, experts have now come up with many possible treatments for successfully managing the condition. Let’s learn about them in more detail.
Possible methods of treating sleep apnea
Sleep experts determine whether a patient is suffering from OSA based on the combined evaluation of objective sleep study results and clinical manifestations. The cardinal symptoms include snoring, sleepiness, and reports of sleep apnea episodes. In most cases, doctors recommend patients undergo a sleep study to get conclusive results. The test also helps determine the severity and therapeutic choices open to the patient.
People with OSA can opt to manage the condition surgically or non-surgically. Which of them would be a better option for you can be decided based on the history, upper airway imaging, and physical examination. The doctors also consider the severity of the condition when preparing a treatment plan. Among the non-surgical methods, reducing weight is a simple and easy obstructive sleep apnea treatment options. Other options include CPAP therapy, oral appliances, and lifestyle changes.
Epidemiological classification of sleep apnea
For the epidemiological division of OSA, you can perform the segmentation based on total obstructive sleep apnea prevalence, severity-specific diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea prevalence, gender-specific obstructive sleep apnea prevalence, diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea prevalence by clinical manifestations and diagnosed and treatable obstructive sleep apnea cases. As per the revelations conducted until now, OSA is more common in people aged 65 or above.
Present treatment market for obstructive sleep apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea prevalence is registering a growth because of factors like increasing congestive heart failures, Parkinson’s disease, and type 2 diabetes. This, combined with the expected launch of potential therapies based on novel mechanisms, are likely to fuel the OSA market in the upcoming years.
Drugs: At present, doctors advise treating mild obstructive sleep apnea using conservative treatments like weight loss. They rarely suggest pharmacological therapy as the primary treatment option. This OSA therapy includes taking medroxyprogesterone, acetazolamide, protriptyline, and fluoxetine. But, these drugs are not mainly advised.
PAP therapy: Positive airway pressure therapy is another treatment option that can help improve your condition. In this method, patients are made to wear a mask over their mask/nose. Patients who opt for this treatment can pick a PAP device from the several styles and types available in the market, depending upon the patient’s specific needs. These include:
. CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure machine)
. Adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV)
. Bi-level PAP
. Auto CPAP or auto bi-level PAP
CPAP: CPAP is an effective OSA treatment that experts swear by. To witness its benefits, the user needs to show complete adherence. However, with that being said, it is vital to note that the treatment is cumbersome and challenging for the patients to tolerate.
Surgery: This method is typically recommended for patients suffering from OSA because of excessive or malformed tissue obstructing the airflow. In such people, deviated nasal septum, enlarged tonsils, and a small lower jaw with an overbite narrow the throat. To manage the problem, patients should try somnoplasty, nasal surgery, tonsillectomy, and mandibular/maxillary advancement surgery.
Provigil: Another new medication approved by FDA for treating obstructive sleep apnea is Provigil. It is used for individuals who experience persistent daytime sleepiness despite CPAP use. The suggested dosage for people suffering from narcolepsy or OSA is 200mg. It must be taken orally only once during the day in the morning.
Sunosi: Another drug that is approved for OSA is Sunosi. Indicated for curing excessive daytime sleepiness linked with narcolepsy or OSA, the med is a dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. Since the drug does not treat the underlying causes of airway obstruction, you need to manage them with a CPAP machine or other devices prescribed by the doctor.
Emerging sleep apnea drugs in the pipeline
Many companies are working diligently across the globe toward developing novel treatment therapies. Among them, drugs like Dronabinol, AD109 and others are the most anticipated. Presently, they are in the mid and late phases of clinical trials.
Dronabinol: This drug is a synthetic form of the cannabis compound THC. It is the first pharmacologic approach toward treating potentially serious obstructive sleep apnea. During the phase II trials, the med has demonstrated the ability to reduce the effects of obstructive sleep apnea significantly.
AD109: The drug targets the neurological pathways to lessen pathological upper airway closure. It is in an oral pharmaceutical combination meant to be taken once a day. The drug combines norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (NRI), atomoxetine, NCE selective antimuscarinic, and aroxybutynin. The med is produced to be safe, efficient, and convenient to take.
Conclusion:
OSA is a globally occurring disease that can develop in both males and females. To combat the condition and figure out a sustainable treatment, experts everywhere are working diligently.
