Medical Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Asher Qureshi; Teofilo L. Lee-Chiong

doi:10.1055/s-2005-864203

Seminars in Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Table of Contents

Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2005; 26(1): 96-108
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-864203

Medical Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Asher Qureshi¹ ^, ² , Teofilo L. Lee-Chiong³ ^, ⁴ Jr.

¹Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care, St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Hartford, Connecticut
²Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Connecticut, Farmington, Connecticut
³National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Denver, Colorado
⁴University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado

Abstract

ABSTRACT

A variety of treatment options are available for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea in addition to positive pressure therapy and surgery. These modes of treatment might be employed in patients who cannot tolerate positive pressure therapy despite aggressive measures to improve compliance. These options include weight reduction, sleep hygiene, positional therapy, and oxygen therapy. Some of the options are still experimental and include pharyngeal muscle and hypoglossal nerve stimulators. A variety of pharmacological agents have also been used. The mechanisms by which these drugs improve sleep-disordered breathing include increasing ventilatory drive and upper airway muscle tone, reducing the amount of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and enhancing daytime wakefulness.

KEYWORDS

Obstructive sleep apnea - positional therapy - weight reduction - oxygen therapy - pharmacological treatment of sleep apnea

Full Text

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Asher QureshiM.B.B.S.

Sleep Disorders Center, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care

St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center

114 Woodland St., Hartford, CT 06015

Email: aqureshi@stfranciscare.org