Sleep Apnea Treatment
Sleep apnea treatment options for mild cases of sleep apnea involve self-help and behavioral adjustments. They include losing weight, eliminating alcohol, quitting smoking, stopping taking sleeping pills, sleeping on your side, and regularizing sleep hours.
For severe cases of sleep apnea, these self-help treatments are not enough. Several other sleep apnea treatments are available. They include:
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
The most widely recommended sleep apnea treatment is a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine (CPAP). A CPAP machine provides airway pressure to a sleeper with sleep apnea. The sleeper wears a mask-breathing device while sleeping. It supplies pressurized air, which the sleeper breathes in, preventing the airway from collapsing and keeping the sleeper from apnea episodes and snoring. The CPAP machine provides constant air pressure regardless of whether the sleeper is inhaling or exhaling.
A CPAP machine is an effective sleep apnea treatment, but many sufferers have found the breathing mask to be uncomfortable. Thanks to recent advancements, CPAP masks are now much more comfortable. Newer CPAP masks come in a variety of styles, allowing sleepers to find the mask that works best for them.
Advancements in CPAP sleep apnea treatment also involve adjustable air pressure. Bi-level PAP allows the sleeper to switch from high to low air pressure during exhalation. Auto PAP automatically adjusts air pressure via an internal regulator at fluctuating instead of fixed levels.
Oral Appliances
Oral appliances, like a sports mouth guard or orthodontic retainer, which fit in a sleeper’s mouth, are an effective mild to moderate sleep apnea treatment. These oral appliances keep the sleeper’s throat and airway open. Many sufferers find the oral appliances easier to use than a CPAP machine, but less effective. Other oral appliances fit around the head and chin to adjust the lower jaw of the sleeper, bringing it forward and relieving snoring and apnea.
Two commonly used oral appliances to bring the jaw forward during sleep are the Tongue Retaining Device and the Mandibular Repositioning Device. These appliances are available from a dentist who specializes in sleep apnea treatment. Some sleep apnea sufferers find the oral device uncomfortable and experience jaw problems, nausea, saliva build-up, soreness, and tooth tenderness.
Surgery
Certain surgeries can remove tissues, tonsils, or adenoids, keeping the airway from being able to collapse and are an optional sleep apnea treatment. Surgery may provide permanent relief, but there are risks of infection and complications. Depending on the type of sleep apnea, the surgery options for sleep apnea treatment include:
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) – A surgeon removes the tonsils, adenoids, tissue from the back of the mouth, and from the top of the throat.
Maxillomandibular Advancement – A surgeon moves the upper and lower jaw forward, enlarging the space behind the soft palate and tongue.
Tracheostomy – A surgeon inserts a metal or plastic tube in the neck through which the patient will breathe during sleep.
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