Treatment for breathing disorders

Treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) can help prevent the abnormally slow heartbeat that may occur with obstructive sleep apnoea.Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a condition involving brief periods of breathing cessation during sleep. It occurs when the tongue and structures in the back of the throat temporarily block the airway. CPAP works by blowing these structures out of the way to maintain a clear airway.Researchers from the Heraklion University Hospital used implantable devices, and evaluated the heartbeats of 23 patients with OSA. The devices are capable of monitoring heart rhythm for up to 16 months. Before CPAP treatment, 11 patients (47 per cent) showed evidence of irregular heartbeats, mostly at night. Without the implantable monitoring devices, only 3 of these patients would have been identified. CPAP led to a significant reduction in irregular heartbeats, especially those involving a slow heartbeat. During 14 months of CPAP, no irregular beats were detected in 9 of the 11 patients who previously had such disturbances. The researchers concluded that CPAP is effective in such patients and the results of treatment are maintained and even augmented in the long-term.