Sleep Apnea Snoring Treatment Options
Thursday, October 2nd, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
Methods of treatment for lesser instances of sleep apnea involve self-help and behavioral changes. They include reducing weight, eliminating alcohol, quitting smoking, stopping taking sleeping pills, sleeping on your side, and maintaining regular sleep hours.
For more critical cases of sleep apnea, these self-help treatments are not adequate. Several other sleep apnea treatments are available. These include:
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP):
The most commonly recommended sleep apnea treatment is a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine (CPAP). A CPAP machine donates airway pressure to a sufferer of sleep apnea. The sleeper wears a mask-breathing device at bedtime. Pressurized air is provided, which the sleeper breathes in, preventing the airway from collapsing and arresting apnea episodes and snoring. The CPAP machine supplies constant air pressure irrespective of if the person is taking a breath or expiring.
A CPAP machine is an effective sleep apnea treatment, but many of the afflicted have found the breathing mask to be uncomfortable. With the help of recent advancements, CPAP masks are now more pleasant to wear. Newer CPAP masks come in many styles, allowing sleepers to find the mask that works best for them.
Improvements in CPAP sleep apnea treatment have included adjustable air pressure. Bi-level PAP affords an opportunity to the sufferer to switch from high to low air pressure during exhalation. Auto PAP automatically changes air pressure via an internal regulator at fluctuating instead of stationary levels.
Oral Appliances:
Oral appliances, like a sports mouth guard or orthodontic retainer, which fit in a sleeper’s mouth, are an excellent mode of mild to moderate sleep apnea treatment. These oral appliances aid in keeping the sleeper’s throat and airway unobstructed. Many sufferers find the oral appliances easier to use than a CPAP machine, but not as useful. Other oral appliances fit around the head and chin to adjust the lower jaw of the wearer, bringing it forward and relieving snoring and apnea.
Two oral instruments that are usually used to bring the jaw forward during sleep are the Tongue Retaining Device and the Mandibular Repositioning Device. These instruments are procurable from a dentist who specializes in sleep apnea treatment. Some sleep apnea sufferers find the oral device uncomfortable and experience jaw problems, nausea, saliva build-up, soreness, and tooth tenderness.
Surgery:
Certain surgeries can remove tissues, tonsils, or adenoids, keeping the airway from being able to close and are an alternative sleep apnea treatment. Surgery may offer permanent relief, but there are risks of infection and complications. Depending on the type of sleep apnea, the surgery options for sleep apnea treatment include:
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) - A surgeon removes the tonsils, adenoids, tissue from the back of the mouth, and from the top of the throat.
Maxillomandibular Advancement - A surgeon moves the upper and lower jaw forward, enlarging the space behind the soft palate and tongue.
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