Researchers from King’s College London have found that transcutaneous electrical stimulation relieves sleep apnea and may be an alternative to CPAP therapy, which many patients with snoring refuse because of the discomfort. Research published in the journal eClinical Medicine.
Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is a condition accompanied by snoring and cessation or worsening of breathing during sleep due to collapse of the airways. This reduces blood flow to the body, worsens sleep and increases cardiovascular risk. To address this problem, patients are often given a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. It is estimated that 75% of therapy users stop using within three months. This is largely due to the inconvenience: a person has to sleep all night in a special mask attached to the device.
In a new study, scientists have found that electrical stimulation of the hypoglossal nerve can significantly improve breathing during sleep. The experiment, run from 2018 to 2023, involved 56 men and women with sleep apnea. The procedure was compared with conventional CPAP therapy.
Three months later, scientists evaluated the effectiveness of the treatment. They observed an improvement in unimpeded breathing during sleep and a significant reduction in daytime fatigue. There were also side effects: one patient had mild headaches and several other patients had mild skin irritation where the electrodes were attached to the skin.
The subcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS) machine is small and battery operated. During the procedure, weak electrical currents act on the nerves, which helps reduce pain with temporomandibular joint abnormalities, for example, during childbirth and arthritis.
Before going to bed, users attached electrodes embedded in sticky pads to the base of their necks and upper backs. The authors suggested that electrical stimulation may increase the activity of the muscles responsible for keeping the airways open during sleep.
The procedure was less effective in patients with a high BMI and large neck circumference with impaired penetration of electrical impulses. The scientists noted that such patients can still turn to CPAP therapy. Also, all people with sleep apnea should start with it. The new treatment method will be an alternative for those who cannot tolerate CPAP treatment.
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