New technology is Reshaping Sleep Apnea Treatment

A good night’s sleep is vital to a happy life. Waking up refreshed in the morning affects one’s whole day. And in fact, it is becoming more and more clear that sleep is one of the most important elements of maintaining good health throughout life.

For many people with sleep apnea, however, a good night’s sleep is nearly impossible. Luckily, as Wired reports, new developments in technology are making sleep achievable for those who suffer from sleep apnea. 

Beyond the CPAP
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) happens when there is a narrowing at the back of a person’s throat blocking airways and causing breathing to stop and start during sleep. This not only can disturb sleep, but also can be dangerous. 

This condition affects over 1 billion people around the world, many of them undiagnosed. For people who have been diagnosed though, the most common treatment is the CPAP machine, a device with a fitted mask that keeps airways open during sleep. Unfortunately, however, many people find the mask unbearably uncomfortable, and do not use it as they should. Only 38 percent of patients use the CPAP for the minimum number of hours for it to be effective. 

This is why the new generation of sleep apnea treatments are so important. 

From Nerve Stimulators to Pharmaceuticals
This new generation of treatments takes a multi-pronged approach.  One device, the ZeusOSA, is worn under the chin and sends electrical pulses to the hypoglossal nerve, counteracting the loss of muscle tone that happens when one is asleep that causes the airway to collapse.

Other approaches are mechanical according to Innovation & Tech Today. Mouth guard-like mandibular advancement devices pull the jaw forward, which helps prevent airway collapse. These must be fitted by a specially trained dentist.  In addition, there are also pharmaceutical treatments which move beyond understanding sleep apnea as purely an anatomical condition. They target neuromuscular pathways and stabilize them biologically as opposed to mechanically. 

AI has also proven helpful. AI-powered sleep sensors have revolutionized sleep apnea diagnosis, and can identify the severity of sleep apnea in patients with more accuracy than a single-night study can. Some AI platforms even offer adaptive therapies to patients, and can adjust recommended therapies based on nightly data. 

Sleep is a vitally important part of life, and for people with sleep apnea, trying to get some rest can be a sort of torture. Now, there is hope beyond the CPAP and the mask.