Sleep Apnea Treatments

Sleep apnea treatments can greatly improve the quality of sleep an individual gets. This is a very serious health problem in which a person's breathing is interrupted while they sleep. Left untreated, it can cause a variety of health concerns, including heart disease, high blood pressure and heart failure. There is treatment for sleep apnea in most patients.

Is sleep apnea surgery for you?

There are several treatment options for sleep apnea patients. These treatments include therapies, surgery and lifestyle changes. Doctors must determine the level of severity of the illness and the cause of the condition prior to choosing a treatment option. In most cases, therapies coupled with lifestyle changes are necessary.

In mild forms of sleep apnea, doctors may treat the condition by encouraging weight loss, stop smoking and exercise. This is often the first step in any treatment regimen. If the conditions don't improve, doctors may need to move on to more extensive treatment options.

There are several therapy options for patients:

• CPAP devices: For patients with obstructive sleep apnea, the most common type of sleep apnea, doctors generally start with Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, or CPAP, devices and then move on to other options if the CPAP device isn't effective. This device administers a steady flow of air into the air passageways. This is done by increasing the air pressure in the airways, through the use of naasel inserts or a mask placed over the nose. The amount of air pressure delivered is determined by your doctor. The upper airway passage remains open by the pressure, allowing the airway to remain open and therefore allowing for better sleep.

• Other airway pressure devices: In some people, the CPAP mask is uncomfortable or the CPAP device does not do enough to keep the airways open. For example, a common problem for CPAP users is the inability or the difficulty of exhaling against the inward pressure. In these situations other airway pressure devices are available such as the BiPAP machine, or Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure device. This device works by applying more pressure during inhalation and less pressure for exhalation.
• Oral applications: Oral appliances are designed to fit the person's mouth individually so they can keep the throat open during breathing. For example, some will accomplish this by bringing the jaw forward. These devices are often available through dentists.

In some patients, the use of devices doesn't provide enough help, but surgeries can. There are several options for doctors to select from:

• UPPP: Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, or UPPP, is a surgical procedure in which the doctor removes any tissue near the top of the throat, which may include your tonsils and adenoids. This is not always the best surgery for treating sleep apnea because the problems may be deeper into the throat. But, this surgery may relieve snoring.
• Maxillomandibular Advancement: This surgery moves the lower and the upper jaw bone forward. By doing this, more space is created behind the tongue. This makes it more difficult for the blockage of the airway to occur.

Other surgeries are available if there are polyps in the throat. Additionally, in severe, life-threatening conditions, doctors may also perform a tracheotomy to open the air passage from the throat.

Often, making lifestyle changes can improve sleep apnea so much so that a doctor may decide to reduce or stop other treatments, depending on the severity of your sleep apnea. These lifestyle changes may help you to stop relying on these devices:

• Losing weight can help to reduce the amount of excess tissue around the neck and therefore allow for better passage of air.
• Changing sleeping positions can help to open the airways better. Try to sleep on your side or on your stomach instead of sleeping on your back.
• Monitor and reduce the use of alcohol and medications at night, which could cause the muscles to relax. This includes sleeping pills and tranquilizers.

Getting proper treatment from your doctor can help you to overcome this condition. Sleep apnea treatments can be highly successful at treating the illness.

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