Sleep-disordered breathing is a potentially reversible cause of pulmonary hypertension. Additionally, sleep-disordered breathing importantly contributes to disease severity in individuals with all causes of pulmonary hypertension. The co-existence of pulmonary hypertension and sleep-disordered breathing must be recognized as it may alter treatment strategies.Fatal insomnia (FI) is a rare prion disease severely affecting sleep architecture. Breathing during sleep has not been systematically assessed. Our aim was to characterize the sleep architecture, respiratory patterns, and neuropathologic findings in FI.

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a relatively novel noninvasive neurostimulation method that is believed to mimic the effects of invasive cervical VNS. It has recently been suggested that the effectiveness of taVNS can be enhanced by combining it with controlled slow breathing. Slow breathing modulates the activity of the vagus nerve and is used in behavioral medicine to decrease psychophysiological arousal. Based on studies that examine the effects of taVNS and slow breathing separately, this article speculates on some of the conditions in which this combination treatment may prove effective. Furthermore, based on findings from studies on the optimization of taVNS and slow breathing, this article provides guidance on how to combine taVNS with slow breathing.

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With Regards
Sofia
Journal Co-ordinator
Journal of Rare Disorders: Diagnosis & Therapy