Understanding Sleep Apnea
- Sleep apnea is typically treated with lifestyle changes like weight loss and the use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, however, a new study suggests the GLP-1 drug Tirzepatide—sold under the brand names Mounjaro and Zepbound for type-2 diabetes and weight loss—can also help treat sleep apnea.
- Sleep apnea, which comedian Amy Poehler has, is a sleep disorder during which breathing stops and starts multiple times. The American Medical Association says nearly 30 million people in the U.S. have sleep apnea. However, only 6 million people are diagnosed with sleep apnea.
- Snoring is usually associated with sleep apnea. So if you snore at night, you may want to speak with your doctor to determine whether or not you have sleep apnea.
- Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type of sleep apnea. It’s when your upper airway gets blocked many times while you sleep, reducing or completely stopping airflow.
The study, called, “Tirzepatide for the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Obesity,” found that that the drug could reduce the severity of sleep apnea, as well as lead to weight loss and improved blood pressure.
Read MoreDr. Atul Malhotra, the lead author of the research and a sleep medicine specialist said the research reveals that tirzepatide is “a more effective knife in the drawer,” for easing sleep apnea symptoms, according to the Associated Press.
In addition to the improvements in sleep apnea episodes, the study noticed patients taking the drug to have lost between 18 and 20 percent of their body weight.
“This study marks a significant milestone in the treatment of OSA [Obstructive sleep apnea: When your upper airway gets blocked many times while you sleep, reducing or completely stopping airflow], offering a promising new therapeutic option that addresses both respiratory and metabolic complications,” said Dr. Malhotra also said in a statement, shared in a UC San Diego Health press release.
“This breakthrough opens the door to a new era of OSA management for people diagnosed with obesity, potentially transforming how we approach and treat this pervasive condition on a global scale.”
Dr. Malhotra added, “Historically, treating OSA meant using devices during sleep, like a CPAP machine, to alleviate breathing difficulties and symptoms. However, its effectiveness relies on consistent use.
“This new drug treatment offers a more accessible alternative for individuals who cannot tolerate or adhere to existing therapies. We believe that the combination of CPAP therapy with weight loss will be optimal for improving cardiometabolic risk and symptoms. Tirzepatide can also target specific underlying mechanisms of sleep apnea, potentially leading to more personalized and effective treatment.”
According to the National Library of Medicine, “Tirzepatide is a novel medication approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May 2022 for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Tirzepatide is a synthetic polypeptide and dual agonist for the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptors.
“Therefore, the drug leads to significantly improved glycemic control and weight reduction in patients with T2DM, maximizing benefits similar to GLP-1 medications such as semaglutide. Tirzepatide is currently utilized as a second-line diabetes medication akin to GLP-1 drugs, such as semaglutide, and is administered once weekly via subcutaneous (SQ) injection with incremental dosage adjustments.”
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Amy Poehler’s Struggle With Sleep Apnea
Amy Poehler was diagnosed with sleep apnea at the age of 40 after going to a sleep center in Beverly Hills after her lifelong struggle with sleep, according to the Huff Post, which reported on her memoir “Yes Please.”
Poehler opened up about her sleep issues, writing in the book, “The sleep deprivation after children is so real. I liken it to what it must feel like to walk on the moon and cry the whole time because you had heard that the moon was supposed to be great but in truth it totally sucks.
“Throughout my life I have been told I snore so loudly that it sounds like I am dying or choking. I come from a family of snorers and we all used to record each other to show each other the damning evidence. I am convinced my body is trying to gently strangle me to death.”
After meeting with a doctor, Poehler was told she only received a view minutes of REM sleep at a time and would wake up about 20 to 30 times in one night.
Poehler, who admits to using a CPAP machine when needed, as well as breathing strips, mouth guards, and special pillows, remains grateful for having better night sleeps since her diagnosis, as per Huff Post.
“One good night’s sleep can help you realize that you shouldn’t break up with someone, or you are being too hard on your friend, or you actually will win the race or the game or get the job. Sleep helps you win at life,” she said in her memoir.
Understanding Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder during which breathing stops and starts multiple times. The American Medical Association says nearly 30 million people in the U.S. have sleep apnea. However, only 6 million people are diagnosed with sleep apnea.
Snoring is usually associated with sleep apnea. So if you snore at night, you may want to speak with your doctor to determine whether or not you have sleep apnea.
RELATED: Does Sleep Apnea Cause Cancer? New Evidence Suggests Women Could Be At More Risk
Sleep apnea is typically treated with lifestyle changes like weight loss and also the use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine.
According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, two types of sleep apnea include:
- Obstructive sleep apnea: When your upper airway gets blocked many times while you sleep, reducing or completely stopping airflow. It is the most common type of the disorder.
- Central sleep apnea: When your brain does’t send the correct signals needed to breathe. Health conditions that alter how your brain controls your airway and chest muscles can lead to this type of the disorder.
“To diagnose sleep apnea, your provider may have you do a sleep study. Breathing devices such as continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) machines and lifestyle changes are common sleep apnea treatments,” the institute explains.
“If these treatments do not work, surgery may be recommended to correct the problem that is causing your sleep apnea. If your sleep apnea is not diagnosed or treated, you may not get enough good quality sleep. This can lead to trouble concentrating, making decisions, remembering things, or controlling your behavior. Sleep apnea is also linked to serious health problems.”
Sleep Apnea & Cancer
Sleep apnea can cause myriad problems apart from just tiredness from interrupted sleep. It can also lead to heart problems and as the recent study shows it can cause elevated cancer risk.
In an earlier interview with SurvivorNet, Dr. Amanda Phipps, an epidemiologist and researcher at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, spoke about the links between sleep apnea and cancer.
“This is a cross-sectional analysis,” she explained of a 2019 study showing a similar correlation between apnea and cancer. “So it shows just one snapshot of each participant. So it’s really hard to work out what’s the chicken and what’s the egg, whether the apnea or the cancer came first.”
“Not all cancers are created equally,” Dr. Phipps adds. “The association between [sleep apnea] and cancer may well be different depending on the type of cancer.”
Symptoms of sleep apnea include:
- Loud snoring
- Periods during which you stop breathing during your sleep
- Gasping for air during sleep
- Waking up with a dry mouth
- Waking up with a headache
- Problems with staying asleep
- Excessive sleepiness during the day
- Trouble paying attention during the day
- Irritability
A researcher who presented the sleep apnea study, Dr. Andreas Palm, tells Eureka News, “It is known already that patients with obstructive sleep apnea have an increased risk of cancer, but it has not been clear whether or not this is due to the OSA itself or to related risk factors for cancer, such as obesity, cardiometabolic disease and lifestyle factors.
Dr. Palm continues, “Our findings show that oxygen deprivation due to OSA is independently associated with cancer. We found that patients with cancer had slightly more severe [sleep apnea].”
Patients that Dr. Palm and his team looked at included people diagnosed with lung cancer, prostate cancer, and melanoma. “The findings in this study highlight the need to consider untreated sleep apnea as a risk factor for cancer and for doctors to be aware of the possibility of cancer,” says Dr. Palm.
An earlier study pointed to the same correlation. In 2019, a study of more than 19,000 people from the European Sleep Apnea Database (ESADA) suggested that women with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer than men with the condition.
Researchers looked at data from 19,556 people included in the database, an international, multicenter study, and found that among the ESDA participants, 388 people (2 percent) had been diagnosed with a serious cancer. this included 160 women and 228 men, which is 2 percent of all women and 1.7 percent of all men in the ESADA group.
The study did not look at a specific kind of cancer.
The Importance of Getting Adequate Sleep
Getting adequate sleep while being treated for sleep apnea is important. It’s recommended that the average adult sleep around 7-8 hours per night. If you’re diagnosed with sleep apnea, you want to be extra-vigilant about getting proper rest. Not only will it make you happier during the day time and allow you to feel better, but it could lower your cancer risk, too.
Practice good sleep hygiene by using your bedroom just for sleep and for intimacy. Try to avoid watching television before bed, scrolling on your phone, or other activities that can negatively impact your sleep quality.
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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