How To Treat Sleep Apnea

You are always so tired, it seems like you drag yourself through every day. Someone has suggested you might have a sleeping disorder like sleep apnea.

If you suffer sleep apnea, it is much more than a simple lack of sleep. It is not something that you should just endure, until you eventually get over the problem. All of the sleep tricks like counting sheep will not make a difference. If you have sleep deprivation, it not only harms you but also the people in your world.

Treatment of sleep apnea is necessary to prevent major health problems. For milder cases of sleep apnea, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes such as losing weight or quitting smoking. Minor sleep apnea is responsive to self-help remedies. Some of the following self-help treatments for sleep apnea may work for you.

1 . Lose Weight
Overweight individuals who lose even 10% of their weight can reduce sleep apnea and improve sleep quality.

2 . Stop using alcohol, tobacco and sedatives
Relaxes the muscles of the throat and encourages snoring

3 . Sleep on your side
Special pillows or remedies that encourage side-sleeping such as the “tennis ball trick,” might help people who only experience sleep apnea when they sleep on their back

4 . Elevate the head of your bed 4 -6 inches
This can alleviate snoring and make breathing easier

If these measures don't improve your signs and symptoms or if your apnea is moderate to severe, a number of other treatments are available. Certain devices can help open up a blocked airway.

There is one treatment that is the best option. To keep the upper airway open, it is often necessary to support it with a constant flow of air delivered through a face mask worn while sleeping. This most common treatment is called Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)

The CPAP machines will be set with a prescribed pressure and other equipment including a humidifier, hosing and a personally fitted mask will be issued. It is important to find a mask that is comfortable with minimal leakage when it is worn. Most individuals who use CPAP are able to tolerate it after a few weeks of regular use.

Some people who have sleep apnea may benefit from surgery. The type of surgery and how well it works depend on the cause of the sleep apnea. Surgery is done to widen breathing passages. It usually involves removing, shrinking or stiffening excess tissue in the mouth and throat or resetting the lower jaw.

The most commonly performed surgical procedures for sleep apnea include :

1 . Nasal surgery
Correction of nasal obstructions such as a deviated septum

2 . Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP)
A procedure that removes soft tissue on the back of the throat and palate, increasing the width of the airway at the throat opening.

3 . Mandibular maxillar advancement surgery
Invasive surgery to correct certain facial abnormalities or throat obstructions that contribute to sleep apnea

With treatment, many of the chronic conditions associated with sleep apnea can be resolved. It has been shown to improve daytime sleepiness, concentration and memory, heart disease and heart failure, heartburn and reflux, diabetes control, erectile dysfunction and depression.

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If you are looking for a great way to get started, head over to Apnea Treatment Guide and take a closer look at what happens when you have snoring and what you can do about it!

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