Pressures Exerted On Upper Airway Walls By Surrounding Tissue Structures
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$426,500.00
Summary
The obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSA) refers to a condition in which throat blockage occurs during sleep leading to breathing difficulties, including cessation of breathing for short periods of time. OSA effects both men and women but is amongst the commonest of chronic disorders of adult males, occurring in 5% of men over the age of 45 years. In the proposed studies we will examine the effect of the pressure in the tissues surrounding the throat on the ability of the throat to stay open a ....The obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSA) refers to a condition in which throat blockage occurs during sleep leading to breathing difficulties, including cessation of breathing for short periods of time. OSA effects both men and women but is amongst the commonest of chronic disorders of adult males, occurring in 5% of men over the age of 45 years. In the proposed studies we will examine the effect of the pressure in the tissues surrounding the throat on the ability of the throat to stay open and allow breathing. The major outcome of the animal studies is increased knowledge concerning mechanisms whereby collapsing forces are applied to the upper airway. This will give insights into potential factors influencing upper airway collapse during sleep in OSA patients. Of particular importance will be our studies on the effects of jaw position on the pressure exerted on the walls of the throat since the use of an intra-oral device to hold the jaw forward during sleep is one of the treatments used to prevent throat blockage during sleep. The studies in humans will examine, for the first time, the notion that the mass (weight) of the neck has a direct effect on the severity of sleep disordered breathing. If neck mass has a substantive influence on sleep disordered breathing then strategies aimed at reducing neck mass (fat) may provide a new therapeutic approach to the management of OSA patients.Read moreRead less
A-Prof Wheatley is a respiratory and sleep disorders physician investigating the pathogenesis, health consequences and management of sleep breathing disorders, including sleep apnoea and snoring.
THE BAROREFLEX IN SNORING AND THE OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNOEA HYPOPNOEA SYNDROME
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$436,261.00
Summary
The obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS) refers to a condition in which throat blockage occurs during sleep leading to breathing difficulties, including snoring and cessation of breathing for short periods of time. OSAHS is amongst the commonest of chronic disorders of adult males, occuring in 5% of men over the age of 45 years. It is now recognised that one of the major complications of OSAHS is the development of high blood pressure and heart disease. In the proposed studies, we ....The obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS) refers to a condition in which throat blockage occurs during sleep leading to breathing difficulties, including snoring and cessation of breathing for short periods of time. OSAHS is amongst the commonest of chronic disorders of adult males, occuring in 5% of men over the age of 45 years. It is now recognised that one of the major complications of OSAHS is the development of high blood pressure and heart disease. In the proposed studies, we will examine the proposal that snoring alone, without significant associated OSAHS, can also lead to high blood pressure in habitual snorers both awake and asleep. In particular, we will explore the hypothesis that chronic snoring transmits a pressure wave through the tissues of the neck to the carotid artery which is the main blood supply to the brain. We propose that the chronic vibration of this artery can alter pressure sensors in the artery wall, which then results in the persistance of high blood pressure. Our studies will help to prove that this is a mechanism whereby both snoring and OSAHS may contribute to the development of high blood pressure. The recognition of snoring as an independent risk factor for high blood pressure will clearly have important and wide ranging implications for the future management of snoring in the prevention of high blood pressure.Read moreRead less
The Impact Of CPAP Treatment On Carotid Artery Atherosclerosis In Heavy Snoring And Mild Sleep Disordered Breathing
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$697,512.00
Summary
Mild sleep disordered breathing, including habitual snoring, is a very common problem in the adult population, with a prevalence of between 20-40%. Increasingly it is now recognised that habitual snoring may be an independent risk factor for the development of stroke. In this proposal we will explore the hypothesis that treatment for snoring will slow or stop the development of carotid artery atherosclerosis.
Surface Tension Of Upper Airway Lining Liquid: Role In Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Hyponoea Syndrome
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$494,833.00
Summary
The obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS) refers to a condition in which throat blockage occurs during sleep leading to breathing difficulties, including cessation of breathing for short periods of time. OSAHS affects both men and women but is amongst the commonest of chronic disorders of adult males, occurring in 5% of men over the age of 45 years. In the proposed studies we will examine the effect that the liquid layer that lines the throat, has on the ability of the airway to st ....The obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS) refers to a condition in which throat blockage occurs during sleep leading to breathing difficulties, including cessation of breathing for short periods of time. OSAHS affects both men and women but is amongst the commonest of chronic disorders of adult males, occurring in 5% of men over the age of 45 years. In the proposed studies we will examine the effect that the liquid layer that lines the throat, has on the ability of the airway to stay open during sleep. In particular we will examine whether coating the throat with a substance that decreases stickiness will help to prevent the occurrence of episodes of throat blockage during sleep in persons with OSAHS. We will also explore the role of saliva production and swallowing during sleep in maintaining a low stickiness of the throat and whether this liquid lining is abnormal in OSAHS patients. These studies will establish the potential usefulness of decreasing the stickiness of the liquid lining the throat as a treatment for OSAHS.Read moreRead less
The Role Of Snoring Vibrations In The Pathogenesis Of Early Carotid Artery Atherosclerosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$593,833.00
Summary
Habitual snoring is a very common problem in the adult population, with a prevalence of between 20-40%. Increasingly it is now recognised that snoring may be an independent risk factor for the development of stroke. In this proposal, we will explore the hypothesis that chronic snoring transmits a pressure wave through the tissues of the neck to the carotid artery which may damage the artery wall and subsequently lead to stroke. This may lead to new strategies to treat habitual snoring.
Oxygen To Relieve Dyspnoea In Non-hypoxaemic Patients With End-stage Heart Failure
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$445,658.00
Summary
Chronic heart failure is a cause of suffering and a major cause of death in the Australian community. Patients who have chronic heart failure suffer from a range of symptoms that severely impacts every aspect of their life. One of the most common and distressing symptoms is breathlessness. As people with heart failure near death, their breathlessness may worsen not only in terms of its frequency, but also in its intensity. This worsening of symptoms is a source of great distress, both to patient ....Chronic heart failure is a cause of suffering and a major cause of death in the Australian community. Patients who have chronic heart failure suffer from a range of symptoms that severely impacts every aspect of their life. One of the most common and distressing symptoms is breathlessness. As people with heart failure near death, their breathlessness may worsen not only in terms of its frequency, but also in its intensity. This worsening of symptoms is a source of great distress, both to patients as well as their carers and family. Breathlessness is also the most common cause of admission to hospital for patients. A key strategy for managing this distressing symptom in the home is the supply of oxygen. However, due to a lack of scientific evidence for the benefit of home oxygen for people with heart failure, who do not necessarily have low levels of oxygen, it is very difficult for clinicians to access this therapy for their patients. This study seeks to assess if a specific breathlessness action plan alone or if the addition of either oxygen or air can relieve this distressing symptom. The scientific evaluation of these strategies will assist in improving the palliative care of people with chronic heart failure.Read moreRead less
Microvascular And Macrovascular Disease In Snoring And Obstructive Sleep Apnoea: A Mechanism For Increased Stroke Risk.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$679,744.00
Summary
This project will address the important question of the vascular risk of stroke associated with snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea, by using retinal photography of the eye to directly visualise the vascular changes in the cerebral circulation. Retinal photography may provide a useful clinical tool to help reduce the risk of stroke in patients with snoring and sleep apnoea.
NeuroSleep: The Centre For Translational Sleep And Circadian Neurobiology
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,659,061.00
Summary
NeuroSleep, the Centre for Translational Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology, will foster innovative clinical research and translation to develop national capacity in understanding how sleep disorders and dysfunction of the body clock impact on health. The Centre will focus its activities on the two-way relationship between disrupted sleep and body clock systems and brain disorders. Our goal is to improve brain performance, workplace safety and health outcomes in patients with sleep and circadian d ....NeuroSleep, the Centre for Translational Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology, will foster innovative clinical research and translation to develop national capacity in understanding how sleep disorders and dysfunction of the body clock impact on health. The Centre will focus its activities on the two-way relationship between disrupted sleep and body clock systems and brain disorders. Our goal is to improve brain performance, workplace safety and health outcomes in patients with sleep and circadian dysfunction and in the general community.Read moreRead less