Treatments for Sleep Apnea:
Know Your Options
While most people take it for granted, sleep apnea is a potentially life threatening condition. When left untreated, it can contribute to high blood pressure and increase the risk of heart attacks in the middle of the night. It can also increase the risk for daytime sleepiness, asthma, acid reflux, obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Treatment Options for Sleep Apnea
There are a number of ways by which sleep apnea can be treated. Mild cases can be corrected by simply changing your lifestyle (losing weight, avoiding alcohol, nicotine and sedatives, and sticking to a regular sleep schedule). However, to find the most effective treatment for moderate to severe cases, patients may need to have their condition evaluated by a sleep specialist. Among the most popular treatments for moderate to severe cases of sleep apnea includes the use of breathing machines and devices (CPAP, BPAP) dental devices and surgery.
Breathing Machines and Devices
There is a variety of PAP machines that can be used to treat the symptoms of sleep apnea. Depending on your condition, your sleep specialist may require you to use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or bi-level positive airway pressure (BPAP) to support your breathing patterns.
Dental Devices
Alternatively, you may be prescribed to use dental devices to adjust the position of your tongue or lower jaw and keep your airway open during sleep.
Surgery
If your symptoms continue to persist despite changing your lifestyle and using all the treatment options mentioned earlier, you may want to discuss surgical options with your sleep specialist. By undergoing the appropriate surgical procedure, you can enlarge your airway and reduce your episodes of sleep apnea.
Know Your Options
While most people take it for granted, sleep apnea is a potentially life threatening condition. When left untreated, it can contribute to high blood pressure and increase the risk of heart attacks in the middle of the night. It can also increase the risk for daytime sleepiness, asthma, acid reflux, obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Treatment Options for Sleep Apnea
There are a number of ways by which sleep apnea can be treated. Mild cases can be corrected by simply changing your lifestyle (losing weight, avoiding alcohol, nicotine and sedatives, and sticking to a regular sleep schedule). However, to find the most effective treatment for moderate to severe cases, patients may need to have their condition evaluated by a sleep specialist. Among the most popular treatments for moderate to severe cases of sleep apnea includes the use of breathing machines and devices (CPAP, BPAP) dental devices and surgery.
Breathing Machines and Devices
There is a variety of PAP machines that can be used to treat the symptoms of sleep apnea. Depending on your condition, your sleep specialist may require you to use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or bi-level positive airway pressure (BPAP) to support your breathing patterns.
Dental Devices
Alternatively, you may be prescribed to use dental devices to adjust the position of your tongue or lower jaw and keep your airway open during sleep.
Surgery
If your symptoms continue to persist despite changing your lifestyle and using all the treatment options mentioned earlier, you may want to discuss surgical options with your sleep specialist. By undergoing the appropriate surgical procedure, you can enlarge your airway and reduce your episodes of sleep apnea.