What is a known effect of sedative-hypnotics on sleep-disordered breathing?

What is a known effect of sedative-hypnotics on sleep-disordered breathing?

• A. Decreases daytime sleepiness
• B. Exacerbation of sleep apnea
• C. No effect on apnea
• D. Improvement of airway stability

Answer: (B)

Sedative-hypnotics relax both the central nervous system and the muscles that keep the airway open during sleep. In sleep-disordered breathing, especially obstructive sleep apnea, the airway is already prone to collapse when sleep deepens. When these medications are used, pharyngeal dilator muscle tone drops and the body's normal arousal responses are blunted. That means the airway collapses more easily, apneas and hypopneas become more frequent and longer, and oxygen desaturation can worsen. So, the known effect is an exacerbation of sleep apnea. They don’t improve daytime wakefulness in this context and they don’t stabilize the airway; in fact, they’re more likely to worsen both, which is why the other options aren’t correct.

Sedative-hypnotics relax both the central nervous system and the muscles that keep the airway open during sleep. In sleep-disordered breathing, especially obstructive sleep apnea, the airway is already prone to collapse when sleep deepens. When these medications are used, pharyngeal dilator muscle tone drops and the body's normal arousal responses are blunted. That means the airway collapses more easily, apneas and hypopneas become more frequent and longer, and oxygen desaturation can worsen. So, the known effect is an exacerbation of sleep apnea.

They don’t improve daytime wakefulness in this context and they don’t stabilize the airway; in fact, they’re more likely to worsen both, which is why the other options aren’t correct.