Following
physician-prescribed treatment for obstructive sleep
apnea (OSA) can reduce blood pressure in men who suffer from hypertension,
according to the findings of a recent study.
The study examined the
impact of treating sleep apnea with the regular use of continuous positive
airway pressure (CPAP) in male patients diagnosed with high blood pressure or
type 2 diabetes who also experience OSA. The details of the study appear in the
Oct. 15 Journal of Clinical Sleep
Medicine.
Researchers monitored
more than 200 men as they received routine sleep apnea
treatment using CPAP devices, which help those with OSA maintain an open
airway and breathe freely during sleep by funneling air to the user through a
mask. In the study, researchers conducted follow-up evaluations with the men at
three to six months after the initiation of treatment and again at nine to 12
months after the start of CPAP treatment.
The study indicated
that systolic and diastolic blood pressure dropped substantially following
treatment. Unfortunately, many people with sleep apnea who are prescribed CPAP
treatment outside of a clinical study setting discontinue its use.
Patients often find the
CPAP devices cumbersome and the masks too uncomfortable to continue the
long-term use necessary to maintain positive results. However, there are an
increasing number of comfortable and effective sleep apnea treatment options
available through the field of dental sleep
medicine.
If you or your partner
snores regularly or displays other symptoms of sleep
apnea, a qualified sleep dentist may be able to prescribe a custom-made oral
appliance or other treatment option.