Treatment for Sleep Apnea Since untreated, sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease, memory problems, weight gain, impotency, and headaches. Also, untreated sleep apnea may be responsible for job impairment and motor vehicle crashes. If you have seen your doctor and/or been diagnosed with sleep apnea it is important to begin treatment as soon as possible. Depending upon the severity of your sleep apnea, there are three solutions used effectively to reduce the effects of sleep apnea.
Mild Sleep Apnea
For mild sleep apnea, Non-specific Therapy Behavioral changes are an important part of the treatment program, and in mild cases behavioral therapy may be all that is needed. Overweight persons can benefit from losing weight. Even a 10 percent weight loss can reduce the number of apneic events for most patients. Individuals with apnea should avoid the use of alcohol and sleeping pills, which make the airway more likely to collapse during sleep and prolong the apneic periods. In some patients with mild sleep apnea, breathing pauses occur only when they sleep on their backs. In such cases, using pillows and other devices that help them sleep in a side position may be helpful. For more information see 7 Tips to Help You Sleep.
Another option is the oral appliance, indicated for use in patients with mild-to-moderatesleep apnea who are unresponsive to or are inappropriate candidates for behavioral interventions including weight loss, positional therapy (avoiding the supine position in bed) and eliminating evening alcohol and sedatives. Oral or dental appliances reposition the lower jaw and the tongue, thus opening up the space at the back of the throat, and thereby helping to treat sleep apnea. There are various devices that prevent the tongue from falling back over the airway (a tongue retaining device) or a mandibular advancement device (MAD) which is moved to an anterior and forward position. MAD is the most common type of oral appliance and is often adjustable by the dentist or orthodontist. Reported side effects include damage to teeth, soft tissue and temporomandibular joint.
Most Sufferers of Sleep Apnea are Prescribed CPAP Therapy
Physical or mechanical therapy via nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the most common effective treatment for sleep apnea. In this procedure, the patient wears a mask over the nose during sleep, and pressure from an air blower forces air through the nasal passages. The air pressure is adjusted so that it is just enough to prevent the throat from collapsing during sleep. The pressure is constant and continuous. Nasal CPAP prevents airway closure while in use, but apnea episodes return when CPAP is stopped or it is used improperly.
CPAP Machines
Two types of positive airway pressure used to alleviate the symptoms of sleep apnea are the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure and Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure.
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the effective noninvasive medical treatment to eliminate snoring and prevent sleep apnea. The CPAP consists of a portable machine that has a mask, tubes and fan. The patient is required to wear the sealed mask that is connected to a long hose, over the nose during sleep. CPAP works by gently blowing pressurized air through the nasal passage of the patient at a pressure high enough to prevent the throat from collapsing during sleep.
This pressurized air works as a pneumatic splint. The air pressure is constant and continuous and can be adjusted as per the patient's need at a level that eliminates sleep apnea. Although CPAP is an extremely effective method of treating sleep apnea, many people may find it a bit cumbersome and uncomfortable. The Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure involves positive pressure at different settings on inspiration and expiration.
Sleep Apnea Masks
Sleep apnea masks work with CPAP machines to provide continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and are the most effective noninvasive medical treatment to eliminate snoring and prevent sleep apnea.
In choosing a sleep apnea mask, fit is important; it should fit comfortably. There are several styles available, including the nasal, oronasal (mouth-nose combination) and the oral mask. Most masks are worn over the nose (or the nose and mouth) and are connected to a headgear, which helps in its attachment and removal.
Straps that are too loose or too tight result in leaks. A too tight strap is uncomfortable and can distort the mask cushion. Therefore, an ideal nasal mask should provide an individually tailored fit in all sleeping positions and preferably an option to be reshaped immediately in case of discomfort or leaks. Mostly the masks consist of a hard plastic body, softer silicone seal and varying features like gel cushion, flexible outer shell, pliable nose clips, etc.
The patients may also select an oral mask that delivers pressurized air through the mouth without the need of headgear. This mask requires heated humidification and the patients may wear glasses with this mask on.
Another option, the nasal pillow, is attached to a plastic adapter that is inserted into the nostrils. However, most people find nasal pillows uncomfortable. Manufacturers offer different features of sleep apnea masks. The choice, based on fit and comfort should be made jointly by both the physician and the patient.
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Surgery for Sleep Apnea
Some patients with sleep apnea may need surgery. Although several surgical procedures are used to increase the size of the airway, none of them is completely successful or without risks. More than one procedure may need to be tried before the patient realizes any benefits.
Some of the more common procedures include removal of adenoids and tonsils (especially in children), nasal polyps or other growths, or other tissue in the airway and correction of structural deformities. Younger patients seem to benefit from these surgical procedures more than older patients.
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is a procedure used to remove excess tissue at the back of the throat (tonsils, uvula, and part of the soft palate). The success of this technique may range from 30 to 60 percent. The long-term side effects and benefits are not known, and it is difficult to predict which patients will do well with this procedure.
Laser-assisted Uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) is a procedure performed in a specialist office and involves the use of a laser to remove part of the soft palate, shorten the uvula (the uvula is the tissue that hangs from the middle of the back of the roof of the mouth) and remove other excess tissue from the pharynx.
Somnoplasty is a procedure that uses radio waves to reduce the size of some airway structures such as the uvula and the back of the tongue. This technique is being investigated as a treatment for apnea.
Tracheostomy is absolutely successful but is very invasive, both physically and psychologically and therefore is generally reserved for patients with severe life threatening sleep apnea. In this procedure, a small hole is made in the trachea or windpipe below the site of obstruction and a tube is inserted into the opening. This tube is opened only during sleeping hours, so that air flows directly into the lungs, bypassing any blocked air passage in the throat.
These three solutions are information on what can be done to reduce sleep apnea effect, to better your knowledge in this area. To really cure your sleep apnea, you would still need to consult a doctor. |
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