Tongue Exercise Study For UARS
We’re excited to announce enrollment for a novel way of potentially treating people with upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS). Janet Bennett, a speech pathologist in Asheville, NC, accidentally discovered that tongue exercises helped snorers. She found that by increasing tongue muscle tone, many people stopped snoring and slept better in general. Ms. Bennett and Dr. Omar Burschtin, a sleep physician in New York City, are co-investigators.
This is a study to objectively validate this method and involves three arms:
1. Tongue exercises only. It involves simple 5-10 minute exercises two times per day for a total of 7 weeks.
2. Throat acid reflux treatment with Omeprazole, a common over the counter acid reflux medication. There is evidence that acid reflux of the throat aggravates tongue collapse by causing throat swelling and diminishing protective airway reflexes. This medication is taken twice daily, also for 7 weeks.
3. Both of the above.
You will be randomly assigned, depending on the order in which you enroll. Questionnaires are filled out (takes 20 minutes) before and after the study.
To be eligible, you must be male or female, between 18 to 45 y.o., and:
• AHI of < 5 on a formal sleep study (within one year)
• BMI < 30
• excessive daytime sleepiness lasting for > 3 months OR two of the following:
- Choking or gasping during sleep
- Recurrent awakenings from sleep
- Unrefreshing sleep
- Daytime fatigue
- cold extremities
- inability to sleep supine
- irritable bowel syndrome / GERD / bloating
- low blood pressure
- orthostatic intolerance (dizziness or
lightheadedness)
• Physical exam findings confirmed via office endoscopy.
To see if you are eligible, or if you are interested in participating, please contact Dr. Park at westsideent@mac.com.
Steven Y. Park, M.D.
Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery
(212) 315-9058
