Several Options To Treat Sleep Apnea

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by: rgoldsby1964
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Chronic obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep disorder affecting millions of people, and if left untreated, this disorder which causes momentary stops in breathing while you sleep can be very dangerous and even life threatening. Fortunately, there are many treatment options for people with obstructive sleep apnea, and the intensity of the treatment largely depends on the severity of the apnea. In this article, we will point out several options for treating sleep apnea, including a brief description of each of these treatments.

Positional Therapy

For obvious reasons, apnea during sleep tends to be worse when lying on your back (the supine position). In this position, it is more likely that the airway will become obstructed by the tongue falling over the airway or the tissues in the throat collapsing and obstructing your breathing. Positional therapy is intended to help you avoid the supine position altogether while you sleep. This can be achieved through homemade remedies such as pinning tennis balls to the back of your pajamas, or through specialty products designed to help you avoid this position completely while sleeping.

Weight Loss

Studies have proven that sleep apnea can indeed be weight-related. Extra fat around the neck tends to narrow the airway making obstructions more likely. For overweight people, especially those with mild cases of apnea during sleep, losing weight can completely cure the problem or at least reduce its severity. Those undergoing weight loss therapies may have to use additional treatment options until the weight loss has been achieved.

Avoiding Alcohol and other CNS Depressants

Alcohol and other central nervous system depressants such as sedatives and painkillers can make sleep apnea worse because they tend to relax the airway muscles and reduce the respiratory drive. Studies have shown that avoiding these substances, especially before you go to sleep at night, can reduce the severity of the apnea and in some cases eliminate it altogether.

Oral Appliances

Dental appliances can help treat sleep apnea by keeping the airway open. A mandibular advancement device, for example, also referred to as a MAD, works by pushing the lower jaw forward to help enlarge the airway. These and other oral appliances are often the last step before CPAP breathing therapy (explained below).

CPAP Therapy

CPAP Therapy is an acronym for "continuous positive airway pressure." In this form of treatment, you will be required to wear a breathing mask which is hooked up to a type of ventilator via a long tube. The ventilator, or CPAP machine, delivers a constant stream of air into the airway while you sleep, thus reducing the chance that the tissues in the throat can collapse and obstruct the airway. CPAP therapy is one of the most common and effective treatment options for those suffering from sleep apnea.

Surgery

According to doctors, surgery for treating sleep apnea should only be considered after all other treatment methods have failed. The intention of sleep apnea surgery is to open the airway by either removing tissues in the throat that are causing the obstruction or reconstructing the bones in the mouth and the throat. Surgery for treating sleep apnea is more common in children if the airway is being obstructed by either the tonsils or adenoids which can be removed with minor surgery.

über den Autor

Learn more about how to treat sleep apnea and discover the latest information about the various treatments available for this disorder.

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<h1>Several Options To Treat Sleep Apnea</h1> <p> Chronic obstructive sleep apnea is a sleep disorder affecting millions of people, and if left untreated, this disorder which causes momentary stops in breathing while you sleep can be very dangerous and even life threatening. Fortunately, there are many treatment options for people with obstructive sleep apnea, and the intensity of the treatment largely depends on the severity of the apnea. In this article, we will point out several options for treating sleep apnea, including a brief description of each of these treatments.<br /><br />Positional Therapy<br /><br />For obvious reasons, apnea during sleep tends to be worse when lying on your back (the supine position). In this position, it is more likely that the airway will become obstructed by the tongue falling over the airway or the tissues in the throat collapsing and obstructing your breathing. Positional therapy is intended to help you avoid the supine position altogether while you sleep. This can be achieved through homemade remedies such as pinning tennis balls to the back of your pajamas, or through specialty products designed to help you avoid this position completely while sleeping.<br /><br />Weight Loss<br /><br />Studies have proven that sleep apnea can indeed be weight-related. Extra fat around the neck tends to narrow the airway making obstructions more likely. For overweight people, especially those with mild cases of apnea during sleep, losing weight can completely cure the problem or at least reduce its severity. Those undergoing weight loss therapies may have to use additional treatment options until the weight loss has been achieved.<br /><br />Avoiding Alcohol and other CNS Depressants<br /><br />Alcohol and other central nervous system depressants such as sedatives and painkillers can make sleep apnea worse because they tend to relax the airway muscles and reduce the respiratory drive. Studies have shown that avoiding these substances, especially before you go to sleep at night, can reduce the severity of the apnea and in some cases eliminate it altogether.<br /><br />Oral Appliances<br /><br />Dental appliances can help treat sleep apnea by keeping the airway open. A mandibular advancement device, for example, also referred to as a MAD, works by pushing the lower jaw forward to help enlarge the airway. These and other oral appliances are often the last step before CPAP breathing therapy (explained below).<br /><br />CPAP Therapy<br /><br />CPAP Therapy is an acronym for "continuous positive airway pressure." In this form of treatment, you will be required to wear a breathing mask which is hooked up to a type of ventilator via a long tube. The ventilator, or CPAP machine, delivers a constant stream of air into the airway while you sleep, thus reducing the chance that the tissues in the throat can collapse and obstruct the airway. CPAP therapy is one of the most common and effective treatment options for those suffering from sleep apnea.<br /><br />Surgery<br /><br />According to doctors, surgery for treating sleep apnea should only be considered after all other treatment methods have failed. The intention of sleep apnea surgery is to open the airway by either removing tissues in the throat that are causing the obstruction or reconstructing the bones in the mouth and the throat. Surgery for treating sleep apnea is more common in children if the airway is being obstructed by either the tonsils or adenoids which can be removed with minor surgery. <h2>über den Autor</h2> Learn more about <a href="http://bestsleepapneacures.com/treating-sleep-apnea/">how to treat sleep apnea</a> and discover the latest information about the various treatments available for this disorder. </p>