Sleep is crucial for physical and mental health, which is why finding the right treatment for sleep disorders is so vital. Central sleep apnoea is one such disorder that stops the brain from transmitting signals to the muscles that help with breathing. As a result, a person may wake up multiple times during the night, experience shortness of breath, and suffer from headaches in the morning.
Central sleep apnoea can eventually lead to more serious complications, such as heart problems, but there are lots of treatments that can effectively control the condition.
When it comes to treatments, a drug called acetazolamide has been shown to successfully address sleep apnoea. As a diuretic, acetazolamide primarily treats inflammation caused by heart disease by increasing urine output, which removes excess water and salt from the body. However, the medication can also be prescribed to improve breathing in people with sleep apnoea.
Patients may receive acetazolamide when they are unable to use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices. A common sleep apnoea treatment, CPAP machines require a person to wear a mask connected to a pressurized air pump, which helps keep the airway open during sleep. Adaptive servo-ventilation and bilevel positive airway pressure devices work similarly to CPAP machines in that they deliver pressurized air to the lungs.
Other sleep apnoea treatments include:
If these treatments fail to get the desired results, doctors may recommend a surgical procedure. While it is still in the early stages of research, an implanted device known as a Remede System can deliver an electrical signal to assist with breathing.