New research by University of Georgia scientists sheds light on why people with obstructive sleep apnea may have associated autoimmune disorders.
Obstructive sleep apnea is a disorder that occurs when throat muscles relax temporarily, narrowing or collapsing the airway and momentarily cutting off breathing during sleep. The main treatment is continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, which pumps air through a mask to keep the airway open. About 40% of patients can’t tolerate CPAP.
Bradley Phillips led the study and is the director of UGA’s Biomedical and Health Sciences Institute. He and his team found abnormal levels of 4 cell proteins associated with autoimmune disorders in test subjects with untreated sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea damages the health of 35% of Americans and new research could lead to better approaches to treatment and possibly new drug therapies.
