Surface tension of upper airway lining liquid: role in obstructive sleep apnoea hyponoea syndrome

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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.