Nearly 40 million adults in the U.S. have sleep apnea, and more than 30 million of them use a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine while sleeping.
However, the machines tend to be expensive, clunky and uncomfortable -; resulting in many users giving up on using them. High blood pressure is often linked with sleep apnea because the brain works harder to regulate blood flow and breathing during sleep. A recent study at the University of Missouri offers new insight into the underlying mechanisms within the brain contributing to hypertension for those with sleep apnea.
The findings can help pave the way for new drugs that target the brainstem to bring blood pressure back down to normal levels for those with sleep apnea. The study took place in the lab of David Kline, a professor in Mizzou's College of Veterinary Medicine and researcher at the Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center. When oxygen levels in the blood drop during sleep apnea, the forebrain sends warning signals to the brainstem area that controls heart and lung functions.
By studying these signals, we found that two neurochemicals, oxytocin and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), cause the brainstem to become overactive. Over time, this leads to hypertension." David Kline, Professor in Mizzou's College of Veterinary Medicine Hypertension leads to increased risk of stroke, complications for the metabolism and a variety of other health issues.
"Not only do those with sleep apnea often have high blood pre.