A new study published in the American Thoracic Society’s American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine has identified a new brain mechanism responsible for the paralysis of critical breathing muscle during rapid eye movement (REM) that offers the possibility of a new treatment for sleep-related breathing disorders. Although the study was done on rats, the brain region that controls tongue muscles during sleep was discovered during the sleep-wake states. This identified
process opens the gateway for understanding the common and serious problems of snoring and other breathing problems such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) that worsen in REM sleep. In addition, identifying the fundamental mechanism responsible for shutting down a muscle in sleep critical for effective breathing, corresponds to a rational drug target that can be designed to prevent inactivity and prevent OSA and other sleep-related breathing problems.
The tongue is an important breathing muscle as its activity keeps the airway open behind the tongue to allow effective passage of air into the lungs, and in sleep apnea the inhibition of tongue muscle activity in sleep leads to the backward movement of the tongue and blockage of the airway. During REM sleep, mechanisms that suppress tongue muscle activity cause OSA, hence studying the muscle-activating effects of these interventions yield the greatest result during REM sleep, and minimal or absent in other sleep-wake states.
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of sleep apnea such as snoring, daytime sleepiness, irritability, and low energy, it is important to consult a doctor to confirm the diagnosis early and the underlying issue of the cause of sleep apnea. Depending on your financial situation and sleep apnea condition, the doctor will work through with you the type of sleep apnea test in the comfort of your home or an in-lab sleep test to determine the precise nature of your condition to avoid any long-term issues. Besides most insurance companies now pay for sleep testing and CPAP OSA treatment, early intervention with a sleep apnea device can stop snoring or one can a sleep apnea CPAP trial from the equipment supplier or distributor that distributes a range of sleep apnea machines and CPAP supplies for a better quality of sleep and healthier overall well-being.
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