In addition to helping control diabetes and obesity, drugs referred to as GLP-1 agonists also can reverse one other disorder that's closely related to cardiovascular problems: obstructive sleep apnea. This common condition — marked by short pauses in respiration, often accompanied by loud snoring — makes people greater than just grumpy and sleepy throughout the day. Left untreated, this serious condition increases the probabilities of hypertension, heart attack, and stroke.
What happens during sleep deprivation?
A ten- to 30-second pause in respiration that indicates sleep apnea occurs when the airway in your nose or throat is blocked by the tonsils, a A big tongue, or airway, is partially or completely blocked by an excessive amount of tissue.
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Treatment of insomnia
In sleep apnea, pauses in respiration occur when the airway is briefly blocked (see “What happens during sleep deprivation?”). First-line treatment is positive airway pressure (PAP), which uses a small bedside machine to push a robust stream of air through the nose or a mask covering the nose and mouth to maintain the airway open. could
A recent study reported that considered one of the GLP-1 drugs, terceptide (Monjaro for type 2 diabetes and Zipbound for obesity) (sold as) can reduce the variety of interruptions in respiration during sleep – a vital measure of the severity of sleep apnea. Posted on June 21, 2024 New England Journal of Medicinethe year-long study involved 469 individuals with obesity and moderate to severe sleep apnea, a few of whom used PAP machines while they slept. Compared with individuals who received a placebo injection, those treated with tericeptide had a couple of 59 percent reduction of their apnea-hypopnea index, a measure of how repeatedly an individual breathes during an hour of sleep. Breathing slows or stops. Those taking terceptide lost about 20 percent of their body weight.
Ditch your PAP machine?
“At least once a week, I see people in my clinic who have lost so much weight with an obesity drug that they no longer need to use their PAP machine,” says Dr. Javahri. (Another GLP-1 obesity drug, semaglutide, is marketed as Ozempic for diabetes and Vigovi for weight reduction). “Many patients lost between 50 and 60 pounds, which was enough to completely cure their insomnia.” Although tripeptide just isn't approved for the treatment of sleep apnea, it's currently into account by the FDA to be used. However, even when you qualify for a prescription for semaglutide or tirzepatide based in your medical conditions, these drugs will be difficult to acquire resulting from high demand, limited supply, cost, and other aspects.
That said, the growing list of health advantages from GLP-1 agonists (see “Anti-obesity drug reduces cardiovascular problems” in February 2024 Heart Letter) may make each more accessible and reasonably priced in the long run. Dr. Javahri says that if and when terceptide is approved for the treatment of insomnia, sleep medicine clinics will likely provide the drug.
Weight loss has long been really useful for individuals with sleep apnea who're chubby or obese. After people lose at the least 10% of their initial weight (ie, their weight at diagnosis), insurance firms normally pay for one more sleep study to find out in the event that they have PAP. have improved enough to discontinue use, which individuals often find cumbersome and painful. “But I advise people who use anti-obesity drugs to wait until they reach their goal weight before retesting,” says Dr. Javeri.
Other contributors to sleep apnea
Finally, it's price noting that obesity is simply considered one of the aspects that predispose people to sleep deprivation, even in individuals who should not chubby. “Some people are born with physical differences that predispose them to sleep apnea, such as a narrow airway, a thick neck, a large tongue, enlarged tonsils, or A small, drooping chin”. “Smoking also significantly increases the chance of sleep apnea, and alcohol may cause or worsen sleep apnea,” she adds.
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