Goals Of Treating Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a rather common yet often undiagnosed condition wherein there are instances of shallow or infrequent breathing during sleep. This disorder leads to a trouble in your sleep, resulting in tiredness or perhaps drowsiness during the day.
Dealing with Sleep ApneaPresently there are two main goals of treating sleep apnea. The first is to recover regular breathing during sleep,
and the second is to avoid noisy snoring (a common symptom of the disorder) and daytime sleepiness.Exactly how Sleep Apnea Can Be Handled Lifestyle ChangeIf you have a mild situation of sleep apnea, a lifestyle change may be all that you need to treat this condition.Some of the life-style changes you can make include: Avoiding alcoholic beverages and the intake of sleeping pills Stopping the nasty habit of cigarette smoking Losing weight Sleeping on your side instead of on your back as the latter can make it harder for your throat to stay open while you sleep MouthpiecesA mouthpiece, also known as an oral appliance, is another remedy for a mild case of sleep apnea. Doctors would also suggest you wear a mouth piece if you snore loudly even if you dont have sleep apnea.In the treatment of sleep apnea, you will be wearing a Customized-fit plastic mouthpiece that is specially designed to adjust your tongue and lower jaw to keep your breathing passages open while youre asleep. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure or CPAPThis kind of treatment arrives with the use of CPAP masks. The mask is worn over the mouth or nose while you sleep. It is connected to a machine that supplies a constant flow of oxygen, which passes from the machine to the mask through a tube.CPAP is the one sleep apnea treatment that is most suggested by doctors. SurgeryThe more invasive alternative of surgical treatment for sleep apnea is performed on patients with a deviated septum, smaller lower jaw with an overbite, or bigger tonsils that narrow the inhaling and exhaling passages. Surgical treatment to correct the causes of sleep apnea involves shrinking, stiffening, or eliminating extra tissue, or resetting the lower jaw to widen air passages.The 3 most common surgical treatments performed on sleep apnea patients are the following: Nasal Surgery to correct a deviated septum Mandibular maxillar advancement surgery to eliminate throat obstructions Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty to eliminate extra tissue on the back of the palate and throat