夜间阵发性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征不仅常见，且危害甚大（见：http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_690c29ec0100vnuf.html）。睡眠呼吸暂停综合征一旦被确诊，即应接受治疗，以消除睡眠过程中反复出现的自发性呼吸暂停所导致的低氧血症、心跳过快和血压升高等对人体的危害，甚至猝死。由于本症的病因众多，故治疗方法亦不完全一致。目前常用的治疗方法之一是让患者于睡眠过程中配带一台超小型连续性正压呼吸机（continuous positive airway pressure machine），多年的临床实践表明这一装置对部分睡眠呼吸暂停综合征患者具有非常好的治疗效果。最近，瑞士研究人员针对经该装置治愈后的患者是否可以停用该仪器进行了临床研究，结果发现若停用该仪器患者的睡眠呼吸暂停现象会很快复发，这一结果提示需要接受连续性正压呼吸机治疗的睡眠呼吸暂停综合征患者，一经确认该治疗方法确实有效，即应在今后的睡眠过程中连续应用该仪器，以消除睡眠过程中的呼吸暂停现象。

Sleep Apnea Makes Quick Return When Treatment Stops

People who use a continuous positive airway pressure machine need to use them consistently

By Robert Preidt

FRIDAY, Aug. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and sleepiness rapidly return when patients stop using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines, a new study finds.

CPAP is a common treatment for OSA patients, whose breathing is interrupted many times during sleep due to the repeated blockage of the upper airway. CPAP keeps the airway open by pumping a continuous stream of air through a mask or nose piece the patient wears while sleeping.

This Swiss study included patients on CPAP therapy who were randomly selected to either continue or discontinue CPAP for two weeks. Those who stopped CPAP experienced a return of OSA and sleepiness within a few days. Within 14 days, they had significant increases in heart rate and blood pressure, and a deterioration in vascular function.

The results suggest that even a short break in CPAP therapy has a negative effect on the cardiovascular system, the researchers said.

They also noted their findings show that OSA patients need to continuously use CPAP, including taking their machines with them on holidays.

The study appears online in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

SOURCE: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, news release, Aug. 12, 2011