subject: Treatment For Obstructive Sleep Apnea [print this page] Obstructive sleep apnea can be a serious condition that causes a person to lose sleep without being aware of it. Those individuals are groggy throughout the day, despite having felt as if they slept the entire night. The condition is the result of obstructed airways and relaxed muscles that force a person awake several times throughout the night. While the condition is rarely serious, its consequences are nonetheless damaging for a person.
Below, read more about options for treating sleep apnea.
The Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Machine (CPAP)
This machine is common for people who suffer from sleep apnea that results from obstructed airways. The "continuous positive airway pressure" machine, or CPAP, requires the patient to wear a mask at nighttime. An attached machine pushes air through the mask to force air passages to remain open. Many doctors recommend that the CPAP patients wear the device every time they attempt to sleep, whether for an entire night or for a short nap. For that reason, the machine can take some getting used to. CPAP machines are not designed to be a cure for obstructive sleep apnea, but many patients respond positively.
Dental Devices
Other types of sleep apnea are less severe and can be addressed with simpler dental devices that help to steer air into a patient's lungs during sleep. Such devices include tongue retainers that push a person's tongue out of the way of airflow. A splint or suction bulb will hold the tongue in place so that air can pass through. Similarly, the mandibular advancement device, or MAD, positions the jaw in a way that keeps air flowing. It resembles a mouth guard and moves the lower jaw forward. A dentist can help patients learn more about options such as these.
Changing Your Lifestyle
While medical and dental devices can address sleep apnea, some lifestyle changes can also be highly effective. For example, if a person is overweight, he or she may be more likely to suffer from sleep apnea, because fat around the neck can narrow a person's airways. The additional pressure prevents air from making its way in. Also, drinking alcohol or using some types of medications can cause a person's muscles to relax in a way that similarly applies additional pressure. Doctors often recommend sleep apnea patients avoid such substances. Sleep position is also important. People who sleep on their backs are more likely to suffer from sleep apnea. Those patients should consider sleeping on the side or stomach.
Surgical Options
Surgery is rare for sleep apnea patients. In many cases, it is considered ineffective, and some have reported the condition becoming worse. For that reason, surgery is only recommended in extreme cases. Surgical options include uvula removal or jaw restructuring.
