According to medpage today, nasal cannula may replace bulky continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) masks in the treatment of sleep apnea.

The nasal cannula delivers warm, humidified air, which can significantly reduce the symptoms of mild obstructive sleep apnea.

"We developed a simplified method for increasing pharyngeal pressure by delivering warm and humidified air at a continuous high flow rate through the open nasal cannula," explain researchers in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Experts need to do more research, but they estimate that between a third and a half of sleep apnea patients could benefit from this new treatment method, which is much more comfortable for patients.

See The Importance of Healthy Sleep for more information about sleep apnea.