SLEEP APNEA TREATMENTS

There are choices of different sleep apnea treatments depending on the patient’s medical history and the causes of the obstruction.

Although there are no specific medicinal treatments for sleep apnea, there are many other effective methods for treating this disorder. Many sleep apnea treatments include lifestyle changes All of the treatments, though varied, have the same goal: to restore normal breathing and relieve other symptoms such as snoring. As a side benefit, these treatments often help to lower blood pressure and decrease the risk for related conditions including diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

• Weight loss is the biggest and most effective change one can make. The loss of a considerable amount of weight and the slimming down of throat fatty areas can have a major effect just as gaining weight was possibly the reason this all started in the first place. Those who are morbidly obese are often confined to bed and this causes a further problem because weight loss is almost impossible in this scenario.  Remembering that 90% of those with sleep apnea are obese, losing weight has to be the number one consideration when looking for a remedy for your sleep apnea.

• Eliminating or greatly reducing the use of alcohol, tobacco products and caffeine can lead to a marked improvement in sleep apnea.

•  The use of specially designed FDA approved pillows has also been shown to help maintain an open airway, thus reducing the snoring and sleep apnea in mild cases.

• Another effective treatment involves oral appliances, usually designed by dentists with specialized knowledge of sleep apnea, which keep the airway open.  However, these are generally most effective for mild cases only.

• More severe cases may require other treatments such as the use of a breathing apparatus called a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), which delivers pressurized air via a mask worn over the face throughout the night.

• Surgical treatments are available, designed to clear the airway of obstructions but these are generally considered only after other, less invasive methods have been exhausted.

If you or your loved one suffers from sleep apnea or shows similar symptoms, it’s important to seek out a medical professional as soon as possible.  Left untreated, this disorder can lead to severe health problems and even death.  Fortunately sleep apnea is well understood and there are a wide variety of sleep apnea treatments available to help you or your loved one overcome this frightening sleep disorder.

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