The brain mechanism that
regulates breathing muscles during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep has been
identified, and it may provide clues for developing new treatments for obstructive sleep
apnea (OSA) and other sleep-related respiratory problems.
The research relating
to the discovery of the brain mechanism will be published in the upcoming issue
of the American Journal of Respiratory
and Critical Care Medicine, which is the publication of the American
Thoracic Society. During REM sleep, you experience inhibited muscle activity,
including a near-paralysis of the muscles related to breathing, which can
contribute to snoring and
other breathing problems during sleep.
Among these problems
are the breathing interruptions known as apneas, in which a person’s breathing
stops for seconds at a time multiple times per hour. These episodes are the
hallmark of OSA, a dangerous sleep disorder that can increase your risk for
high blood pressure, stroke and heart attack, among other health concerns.
To determine the brain
mechanism responsible for controlling breathing muscles, researchers studied
rats through multiple sleep-wake cycles and focused on the brain region that
controls the tongue during sleep. The tongue was key, because an active tongue
can maintain an open airway while an inhibited tongue can slack during sleep
and contribute to the airway blockage that contributes to sleep apnea.
The identification of
the brain mechanism and chemicals that play a role in regulating breathing
muscle activity may lead to new treatment methods that target the primary
source of OSA and other breathing-related sleep disorders.
If you or your partner
suffers from loud, chronic snoring or other sleep apnea symptoms,
a dentist with experience in the field of dental sleep medicine can help you
determine the source of the condition and recommend an individualized treatment
plan, such as the use of a custom-made oral appliance.