Sleep Apnea Treatment Not Curing Daytime Fatigue
Posted on: Tuesday, 19 May 2009, 06:05 CDT
Even with regular positive airway pressure, or CPAP treatments, extreme sleepiness during the day remains a constant annoyance for individuals suffering from sleep apnea, Reuters Health reported.
Sleep apnea happens when the supple tissues located in the back of throat collapse momentarily during sleep, resulting in repetitive breathing interruption. Loud snoring and daytime exhaustion are defining symptoms of the disorder. Studies show that exhaustion during the day can lead to irritability, cloud thinking and concentration, or maximize risks of traffic mishaps.
CPAP treatment requires a special face mask be worn to administer direct, pressurized air into the airways to force them open during sleep.
Researchers observed a group of 502 patients from 37 sleep centers who were undergoing CPAP treatment. Findings of the study, which can be viewed in the May publication of European Respiratory Journal, revealed that 6 percent still suffered chronic daytime sleepiness.
"In France alone," study leader Dr. J-L. Pepin, from CHU de Grenoble, France stated, "We have 230,000 patients using CPAP. We calculate that at least 13,800 of those have residual daytime sleepiness."
Initially, Pepin and colleagues found that 12 percent of patients had lingering extreme tiredness at 1 year, however after making room for viable contributing factors such as restless leg syndrome, depression, and narcolepsy, the incidence of lingering extreme tiredness dropped to 6 percent.
Daytime tiredness was linked to a poorer quality of life. Investigators pointed out individuals displaying this problem additionally had weakened emotional health and less energy than did others with total responsiveness to CPAP therapy and, did not report any daytime complaint of sleepiness.
---
On the Net:
Source: redOrbit Staff & Wire Reports
Related Articles
- 20 percent older patients rehospitalized
- Welchol(TM) Lowered A1C By a Mean 1 Percent or Greater When Added to Metformin-, Insulin-, or Sulfonylurea-Based Therapy in 47 Percent of Patients Evaluated
- Daytime Sleep Linked to Strokes
- Market Research Suggests Internet Recruitment Is Reducing Clinical Trial Costs; 85 Percent of Patients Research Ailments Online
- VELCADE(R) (Bortezomib) for Injection Based Therapies Produced Complete Remission Rates As High As 54 Percent in Patients With Previously Treated Multiple Myeloma
- Preliminary Topline Efficacy Results From Phase II Data Show Macugen(R) (Pegaptanib Sodium Injection) Maintained or Improved Vision in Over 90 Percent of Patients With Macular Edema Associated With Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO)
- Nationwide Survey Finds Only 30 Percent of Patients Undergoing Infertility Treatment Are Able to Administer Their Medications With One Injection Per Day
- First International Census on Von Willebrand Disease (VWD): 77 Percent of Patients With Severe Type 3 VWD Experience Significant Bleeding-Related Events
- Melatonin Supplements May Promote Daytime Sleep
- TRISENOX(R) Produces Hematologic Responses in 30 Percent of Patients With Higher-Risk MDS
 |
 |
User Comments (0)
RSS Feeds