Episode 106. Adhesive Tape for Obstructive Sleep Apnea?
Aug 9, 2024
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In this discussion, Roger Seheult, MD, a specialist in Sleep Medicine and co-founder of MedCram, dives into the controversial use of adhesive tape placement over the mouth as a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. He analyzes recent studies and shares insights on how this method may serve as a remedy for mild cases. Seheult emphasizes the importance of precise diagnosis, offering a thought-provoking comparison between this new approach and traditional treatments in managing sleep apnea effectively.
Effective management of obstructive sleep apnea is crucial, particularly since early morning disturbances pose a higher risk of mortality.
Mouth taping may provide some benefits for mild obstructive sleep apnea, but further studies are needed to confirm its efficacy and use in various severity levels.
Deep dives
Understanding Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea, particularly obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), occurs when the airway is blocked during sleep, often due to the tongue falling backward as we age. This condition disrupts normal breathing patterns, resulting in significant drops in oxygen levels, which activate the sympathetic nervous system, causing disturbances that can lead to increased heart rate and blood pressure. These repeated disturbances throughout the night create excessive stress on the body, with a notably higher risk of death occurring during the early morning hours for those affected by OSA. Thus, effective treatment is crucial, as managing the underlying physical obstructions can greatly improve sleep quality and overall health.
Evaluating Treatment Options
CPAP is the conventional treatment for obstructive sleep apnea, but alternatives like mandibular advancement devices and surgical options are also available. The podcast discusses various studies exploring the efficacy of mouth taping as an adjunct therapy, particularly for patients with mild OSA. One study found that using porous oral patches significantly reduced the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) in patients, suggesting that keeping the mouth closed could effectively alleviate obstruction issues during sleep. However, limitations in study designs, including lack of control groups and small sample sizes, raise questions about the reliability of the findings, particularly for those with moderate to severe sleep apnea.
Insights from Recent Research
Recent research examined the impact of mouth taping in combination with mandibular advancement devices (MADs) and found that while the combination significantly improved treatment outcomes, tape used alone showed no significant effect on AHI. The study noted that 76% of participants achieved an AHI of fewer than 10 events per hour when combining treatments, compared to only about 43% with MAD alone. However, another study that focused solely on mouth taping revealed that it was only useful for those already categorized under mild OSA, emphasizing the need for further testing. This highlights the importance of individualized treatment plans based on severity assessments completed through proper sleep studies before attempting self-treatment methods like mouth taping.
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Exploring the Efficacy of Adhesive Tape in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment
Roger Seheult, MD of MedCram examines the data related to using adhesive tape over the mouth as a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. See all Dr. Seheult's videos at: https://www.medcram.com/
He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Disease, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine and an Associate Professor at the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine.
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