Innovative Spray Brings Hope to Individuals Suffering from Widespread Sleep Disorder

Australian researchers have discovered a bedtime nasal spray that can potentially reduce the severity of sleep apnea.

The new research offers hope to millions of people around the world affected by the common and debilitating chronic respiratory condition.

Sleep apnoea occurs when the muscles in the back of the throat relax and the upper airway narrows or collapses, restricting oxygen intake and causing people to wake repeatedly.

“It has been linked to a variety of medical conditions including cardiovascular disease, stroke, obesity, diabetes, anxiety and depression,” Professor Danny Eckert, College of Medicine and Public Health at Flinders University, Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health/FHMRI Sleep Health said.

The aim of the study was to determine the effects of a new potassium channel blocker nasal spray.

“When used in a nasal spray, the blockers have the potential to increase the activity of the muscles that keep the upper airway open and reduce the likelihood of the throat collapsing during sleep,” lead author Dr Amal Osman, said.

Using a randomised, blind trial, 10 people with sleep apnoea were given either the potassium blocker nasal spray, a placebo nasal spray or the potassium nasal spray in combination with restricted ‘nasal only’ breathing.

Seven out of the 10 people responded to the potassium channel blocker nasal spray, with is causing a reduction in the frequency of upper airway collapsing episodes during sleep.

They also had lower blood pressure the next morning.

The research is published in The Journal of Heart and Circulatory Physiology.

“What we have discovered is that the nasal spray application of the potassium channel blocker that we tested is safe, well tolerated, ” Dr Osman said.

He said the insight offers a pathway to developing new drugs for the condition.