Sleep Apnea Treatment
Sleep apnea is the condition where a person stops breathing while they are sleeping. It can have some harmful effects when left untreated. These effects can range from excessive tiredness to memory loss to even death. Finding out you have sleep apnea is the first step to getting better. The next step is finding a good treatment. There are various options you can discuss with your doctor.
Positional therapy is an unobtrusive for of treatment. You are simply trained to sleep without lying on your back. When we lay on our back it is more likely that our air way is not clear thus causing sleep apnea. In the beginning this method may not help very much as when you try to turn to sleep on your back you may be woke up by whatever is stopping you from laying in that position. After you are used to not sleeping on your back you can usually have an uneventful night of sleep.
Weight loss has also been seen as a good remedy for sleep apnea. If your doctor determines that your weight is a factor in your sleep apnea, losing some pounds may calm your sleep apnea. This method is usually combined with other treatment methods as weight loss is a slow process.
A simple change in daily habits may also help to treat your sleep apnea. Alcohol and depressant use has been linked to sleep apnea. These drugs calm and relax the central nervous system which can lead to relaxing of the airway muscles which then causes sleep apnea. Avoiding any sort of depressant close to the time when you go to sleep may help you avoid sleep apnea occurrences.
Special oral or dental devices have also been known to help sleep apnea. These devices are obtained through your dentist. They treat sleep apnea by keeping the airway open. There are three ways these devices work. They can push the jaw forward, keep the tongue in pace or combine both jaw and tongue positioning. These devices are usually adjustable so you can get a good fit.
A common treatment for sleep apnea is the use of a continuous positive airway pressure device or a CPAP. A CPAP is a device that is worn while you sleep. It blows air into your airway to keep it open. It can be continuous air or intermittent air. CPAP’s can be uncomfortable and take getting used to, but most find it does stop their sleep apnea. This is the most widely used form of treatment because it works almost immediately and has good results.
Surgery is another treatment option. In most cases it is to open the airway so air flows through easily without an obstruction. Sometimes surgery doesn’t work so other treatment methods are still necessary. Surgery should be discussed with your doctor.
Finding a good method for treating your sleep apnea will be a combination of work by you and your doctor. There is no cure for sleep apnea, but these treatments can help.
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