The Treatment of Sleep Apnea
The treatment of sleep apnea primarily aims at restoring the normal nighttime breathing pattern in addition to an alleviation of the symptoms of sleep apnea including snoring or choking sound, exhaustion or daytime sleepiness. Moreover, the sleep apnea treatment also focuses on minimizing the risk for related health complications, such as high blood pressure, heart attack or stroke. In this article, we will shed light on different available options for treating sleep apnea.
Lifestyle Change
When you are having mild problem with sleep apnea, change in lifestyle may offer you significant benefits. You must avoid smoking, alcohol consumption and sleeping medications. As suggested by National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, these factors influence adversely the throat and make it hard to stay open at the time when you are sleeping at night. You must take enough measure for weight loss, if you are overweight. You must sleep at your side, instead of back.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is most commonly suggested treatment mode of sleep apnea. During the treatment of sleep apnea with CPAP, you will be asked to use a specially designed mask which will blow air into the throat at an appropriate pressure level. This increased pressure in the airway helps the throat open during sleep. The treatment of sleep apnea helps in snoring cessation. However, snoring cessation does not necessarily mean that you have recovered from apnea.
CPAP treatment of sleep apnea may bring some adverse side effects like dry or stifling nose, skin irritation, stomach bloating, eye aches and headaches. In order to get rid off these side effects, you can use nasal spray for alleviating the problem of dry nose. You can also adjust the settings of CPAP including size and fit of the mask. You may allow moisturized air to pass on through the mask. Additionally, you may use automated CPAP with advanced features.
Oral Appliances
Oral appliances are good to treat mild sleep apnea. Even these are recommended when an individual has snoring problem, but not having sleep apnea. It is placed by adjusting the lower jaw and the tongue so that the air can flow smoothly through the airway. However, these may bring few potential side effects including serious damage to teeth, jaw and gums. You must consult your doctor about the possible side effects and to know the appropriate use of oral appliances.
Surgical Intervention
In some cases, patients go through surgical intervention. There are different types of surgeries, but the selection depends on the underlying causes of the sleep apnea. Surgical treatment of sleep apnea may include removal of the tonsils and adenoids, in case these are obstructing the airway. Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty is another form of surgical intervention used for removing tonsils, uvula, and portion of the soft palate. Tracheostomy is a surgical treatment used for severe form of sleep apnea.
