subject: Very effective treatments for Sleep Apnea [print this page] A lot of people suffer through or have to deal with sleep apnea or excessive snoring. Naturally, these people are also busy finding the cure for it. Which treatment for sleep apnea is prescribed is based completely on the physician's assessment of each person's particular condition.
This disorder is said to affect one out of every 200 Americans. The large majority of sufferers are men in their middle age years who are frequently heavy or even obese. However, one should not discount the fact that this condition can also distress both men and women of all ages.
People with sleep apnea may actually stop breathing in their sleepeven for as many as one hundred timeswithout them knowing it. At any point when breathing stops, the sufferer could suffer from low blood pressure. It is not uncommon for this type of patient to be observed gasping for breath. In some severe cases, sufferers of sleep apnea may spend more time having breathing irregularities than a normal one. In cases like this, the patient can be in great danger.
A treatment for sleep apnea cannot be prescribed until a sufferer is given a polysomnography. This is a test to diagnose obtrusive conditions, record the number of episodes and the duration of each, determine the stage of sleep when breathing interruption occurs, measure oxygen saturation, and observe patient's condition when he or she awakens.
Aside from the results of polysomnography, the treatment that the doctor will recommend shall also be based on the person's complaints. A doctor is likely to inquire about the patient's problems falling asleep and also the fatigue he or she experiences during the day. He or she may also be asked about other symptoms such as dry mouth and headache upon waking up or whether he or she is aware of his or her obstructed breathing during sleep.
In milder cases of sleep apnea, treatment typically focuses on suggesting that the patient try to sleep only on their side. Patients who suffer from nasal congestion may be offered decongestant therapies. Obese patients are strongly urged to lose weight.
If the situation is severe, a sleep apnea treatment known as CPAP will be prescribed. CPAP is short for continuous positive airway pressure. A small mask connected to an air regulator is utilized to keep the nasal passages open.
Finally, for the most dire cases, which represents 10% of all sufferers, the sleep apnea can only be resolved through a surgical procedure. In order to open the air passages to a greater degree, a certain amount of soft tissue located at the rear or the throat and soft palate areas will be removed.
