In Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the upper airway closes over and over again during sleep.
This leads to disrupted sleep (waking up during the night), daytime sleepiness, and an
increased risk for developing high blood pressure. Currently, the best treatment for
obstructive sleep apnea is sleeping with a mask that continuously blows air into the nose
(i.e. Continuous positive airway pressure [CPAP] treatment). While CPAP treatment stops the
upper airway from closing in most people, many people have difficulty sleeping with the mask
in place and therefore do not use the CPAP treatment. This research study is being conducted
to learn whether using a combination of therapies (i.e. a sedative and oxygen therapy) will
improve OSA severity by altering some of the traits that are responsible for the disorder.