Australian researchers have found that a bedtime nasal spray has the potential to reduce the severity of people's sleep apnea and lower their blood pressure. The new research, published in the Journal of Heart and Circulatory Physiology, offers hope to the millions of people around the world affected by sleep apnea, a common, debilitating, chronic respiratory disease.
Professor Danny Eckert from the School of Medicine and Public Health said: "Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder in which the muscles in the back of the throat relax, narrowing or collapsing the upper airway, limiting oxygen intake and causing repeated awakenings throughout the night. It is associated with a variety of conditions including cardiovascular disease, stroke, obesity, diabetes, anxiety and depression. Treatment options are limited, and although continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines are an effective way to treat OSA, about 50% of people cannot tolerate it."
Nasal Spray Research and Discovery
The study aimed to determine the effect of a novel potassium channel blocker nasal spray on OSA severity and to investigate the potential impact of different breathing methods (such as restrictive "nasal only" breathing) and the physiological characteristics of those who respond well.
"Potassium channel blockers are a class of drugs that block potassium channels in the central nervous system. When used in a nasal spray, blockers have the potential to increase the activity of the muscles that keep the upper airways open, reducing the likelihood of the throat collapsing during sleep," said lead author Dr. Amal Osman.
In a randomized, blind trial, 10 patients with OSA were treated with either a potassium blocker nasal spray, a placebo nasal spray, or a potassium nasal spray combined with restrictive "nasal breathing only."
Seven out of 10 people responded to the potassium channel blocker nasal spray with less frequent upper airway collapse during sleep and lower blood pressure the next morning. In this trial, using the spray and limiting "nasal only" breathing did not improve sleep quality.
Conclusion and future outlook
"We found that nasal spray application of the potassium channel blockers we tested was safe and well-tolerated," Dr. Osman said. "Those who experienced physiological improvements in airway function during sleep also experienced a 25%-45% reduction in measures of OSA severity, including improvements in blood oxygen levels and lower blood pressure the next day."
Professor Eckert said: "These insights provide potential avenues for the development of new treatment options for patients with OSA who cannot tolerate CPAP machines and/or upper airway surgery, as well as for those who want alternatives to existing therapies. Currently, no drugs are approved to treat OSA, but through these findings and future research, we are getting closer to releasing new drugs that are safe, easy to use, and effective."
Compiled from:ScitechDaily