Treatment FAQ

what is the best treatment for sleep apnea?

by Prof. Keon McLaughlin Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Procedures

Oct 31, 2021 · Sleep Apnea Treatment Options. CPAP. One of the main treatment options for obstructive sleep apnea is CPAP, which stands for continuous positive airway pressure. Although that might ... Dental Appliances. Sleep Apnea Surgery. Weight Loss.

Self-care

Sep 04, 2020 · Doctors consider continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) the gold standard treatment for OSA, and it is usually the first treatment offered to people diagnosed with moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnea. Generally, a CPAP machine plugs into an outlet and sits next to a sleeper’s bed, connecting to their face via a tube leading to a mask that covers either their …

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Here are some of the best and most widely used methods of treatment and what they entail. CPAP or BiPAP Machines CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, and BiPAP stands for Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure. They are both similar in function and are the top non-invasive treatment avenues for sleep apnea.

What are the most effective treatments for sleep apnea?

Aug 21, 2020 · Short for continuous positive airway pressure, CPAP is a common treatment for moderate-to-severe sleep apnea (although research suggests it may be helpful for people with mild sleep apnea, too). It consists of a mask worn over the mouth and nose during sleep.

How to cure sleep apnea naturally at home without CPAP?

Medication Sometimes, something as simple as a good decongestant is all that is needed to treat sleep apnea. Since sleep apnea is a breathing disorder, clearing your nasal passages and sinuses can provide the relief you are seeking. However, decongestants are …

Is it possible to treat sleep apnea naturally?

Apr 08, 2022 · Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy and the Inspire Sleep Apnea Treatment both have the same end goal — to open airways and improve breathing. However, each method achieves this differently. CPAP machines blow pressurized air into your breathing passages through a mask.

What is considered mild to moderate sleep apnea?

CPAP is one of the most effective treatments for sleep apnea and can be a real life changer. Unfortunately, many patients stop using their CPAP machines within the first year of treatment. Some find the mask uncomfortable while others complain about the blowing air, system leaks, dry nose, red eye, and nasal congestion.

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Let Detroit sleep dentists Dr. Chad Witkow, Dr. Richard Klein, and their team at the Michigan Head & Neck Institute help you find the best sleep apnea treatment for you. Please call (586) 573-0438 or email us today for an appointment at our office in Warren, MI.

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What is the most effective treatment for sleep apnea?

This air pressure prevents obstructive sleep apnea and snoring. Although CPAP is the most consistently successful and most commonly used method of treating obstructive sleep apnea, some people find the mask cumbersome, uncomfortable or loud.Jul 27, 2021

What is the newest treatment for sleep apnea?

The new treatment - known as Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation (UAS) therapy - offers the first implantable device for treating obstructive sleep apnea. The therapy works from inside the body and with the patient's natural breathing process.

Is there an alternative to a CPAP machine?

BiPAP machine Another option is bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) therapy. It's similar to CPAP in that you wear a mask that pushes pressurized air into your airways to keep them open. The difference is that with CPAP, the pressure is the same when you breathe in and out.May 6, 2020

Are there other treatments for sleep apnea Besides CPAP?

BiPAP for Sleep Apnea BiPAP, or BiLevel PAP therapy, works in a similar manner as CPAP. Instead of one single pressure, BiPAP uses two pressures – an inhale pressure and a lower exhale pressure. BiPAP is often used as an alternative to CPAP for sleep apnea when patients also present with lung issues, like COPD.

Will an inhaler help sleep apnea?

Frequently OSA patients have comorbid obstructive lung disease, using inhalers for their bronchodilator and anti- inflammatory effects for treatment. A possible anti-inflammatory effect of inhalers on the upper airway has been suggested, however inhalers are not recommended for the treatment of OSA.May 23, 2018

What foods cause sleep apnea?

5 Foods That Can Make Sleep Apnea WorseBananas. Bananas are full of healthful nutrients, and they are delicious. ... Refined Carbohydrates. Whole grain foods are great for your health because they contain lots of nutrients and contribute to satiety. ... Dairy. ... Alcohol. ... Fatty Meats.Nov 30, 2020

Is BiPAP better than CPAP?

Both deliver air pressure when you breathe in and breathe out. But a BiPAP delivers higher air pressure when you breathe in. The CPAP, on the other hand, delivers the same amount of pressure at all times. So the BiPAP makes it easier to breathe out than the CPAP.Mar 3, 2022

What helps sleep apnea without a machine?

Sleep apnea lifestyle remediesMaintain a healthy weight. Doctors commonly recommend people with sleep apnea to lose weight. ... Try yoga. Regular exercise can increase your energy level, strengthen your heart, and improve sleep apnea. ... Alter your sleep position. ... Use a humidifier. ... Avoid alcohol and smoking. ... Use oral appliances.

What is the average cost for a CPAP machine?

A CPAP machine's cost can range anywhere from $250 to $1,000 or more, with prices generally rising for the best cpap machines with more advanced features....How Much Does a CPAP Machine Cost?Machine TypeCost RangeAuto CPAP or APAP (Automatic Positive Airway Pressure)$450 to $1,8002 more rows•Mar 11, 2022

What is the best position to sleep with sleep apnea?

Side sleeping with your back mostly straight is the best position for sleep apnea sufferers according to the Sleep Better Council. Research shows that sleeping on the left side reduces sleep apnea even more than sleeping on the right.Nov 12, 2020

Can sleep apnea be reversed?

CPAP and oral appliances work well, but they're not cures for sleep apnea. The only sure way to rid yourself of the condition for good is to either lose weight or have surgery to remove excess tissue from the palate or throat.Oct 2, 2013

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a medical condition that involves brief pauses in breathing while you are sleeping. Although the pauses usually only last a few seconds, the condition can have several adverse effects on the body. There are a few different types of sleep apnea with obstructive sleep apnea being the most common.

What is the best appliance for sleep apnea?

In some cases, a dental appliance may be effective in treating mild to moderate sleep apnea. There are two main types of dental appliances for sleep apnea including a mandibular advancement device and a tongue retaining device.

Why do you need a CPAP machine?

The pressure helps keep your airway passages open while you sleep. Because your airway remains open, it prevents pauses in breathing.

How does sleep apnea work?

In general, the sleep apnea devices that available for the treatment of sleep apnea work by keeping upper airway open - and preventing it from closing during sleep. Some sleep apnea devices use anatomic positioning. Others use air pressure. Newer technologies are utilizing electrical impulses.

What is a mandibular advancement device?

A mandibular advancement device (MADs) is worn similar to a sports mouth guard. But it’s worn only while you sleep. The device works by pushing the jaw forward to keep the upper airway open. A tongue retaining device is also a mouthpiece, but it has a small piece that fits around the tongue.

Can sleep apnea be treated with CPAP?

Sleep Apnea Surgery. In some instances, surgery for sleep apnea may be a treatment option if CPAP or other treatments are ineffective or not tolerated. The type of surgical procedure may vary based on a person’s individual anatomy and problems contributing to sleep apnea.

Is sleep apnea a medical condition?

Sleep apnea is associated with an increased risk of certain medical conditions. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, people with sleep apnea have an increased risk of a stroke, heart attack and diabetes. It’s pretty clear, if you have sleep apnea, you should get treatment.

What is the best treatment for sleep apnea?

1. Positive Airway Pressure Devices. Positive airway pressure machines, used with a variety of breathing masks, are the most widely used treatment for moderate and severe sleep apnea. The mask, worn snugly over the nose, or sometimes nose and mouth, during sleep, supplies pressurized air that flows continuously or intermittently into ...

What is the most common surgery for sleep apnea?

The most common is uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, or UPPP. The success rate of this operation is about 50 percent.

How many people with sleep apnea are overweight?

About 70 percent of people with obstructive sleep apnea are overweight or obese. Their health care professionals usually encourage them to lose weight. Surprisingly, there have been few formal studies of how effectively weight loss leads to lesser snoring and diminished incidents of apnea and hypopnea during sleep.

How many oral appliances are FDA approved for sleep apnea?

Oral appliances for the treatment of sleep apnea continue to increase in popularity as awareness grows amongst the public that oral appliances are an effective first line treatment for many sleep apnea sufferers. Over 100 different oral appliances are FDA approved for the treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.

What is OAT in sleep medicine?

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) has approved oral appliance therapy (OAT) as a first line treatment for patients diagnosed with mild to moderate OSA. The AASM also recommends oral appliances for patients with severe OSA, who are unable to tolerate or cannot wear CPAP devices.

What is the name of the therapy that stimulates the breathing muscles?

Neuro-stimulation Therapy – Central Sleep Apnea. Implantable systems that stimulates a nerve in the chest (phrenic nerve) to send signals to the large muscle that controls breathing (the diaphragm). These signals stimulate breathing in the same way that the brain signals breathing.

Can you use CPAP for sleep apnea?

Some people with obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, are unable to use continuous pos itive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, the most commonly prescribed OSA treatment, despite best efforts. Now there are new, clinically tested therapies for some people with moderate to severe OSA. These new types of the rapy work inside your body.

Therapy Treatments for Sleep Apnea

Multiple non-invasive treatment options for sleep apnea exist, some of which are more effective than others. Non-surgical options fall into two categories: positive airway pressure (PAP) devices and oral appliances.

Surgical Treatments for Sleep Apnea

When non-invasive devices fail to adequately treat sleep apnea, a sleep specialist may recommend surgery to help prevent lapses in breathing during sleep. The type of surgery a person might undergo depends on their unique anatomy and what is causing their breathing issues.

Lifestyle Changes to Treat Sleep Apnea

Multiple lifestyle factors may be able to reduce severity of OSA symptoms.

How to Pick The Right Sleep Apnea Treatment For You

Usually, a person’s sleep specialist determines which sleep apnea treatment is best for them based on their unique symptoms and health situation. Along with treatment of any underlying health conditions, a CPAP machine is usually the first treatment prescribed for sleep apnea.

Talking With Your Doctor About Sleep Apnea Treatment Options

Once your sleep specialist gives you a sleep apnea diagnosis, they will outline their plan for your treatment.

What is the sleep apnea subtype?

This subtype is called Positional Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

When was the sleep apnea system first approved?

The system was first FDA approved for sleep apnea 20 years ago , and thousands of procedures have been completed to date. There is not much long-term data available on the procedure because it is fairly new in the medical world; however, the majority of patients have reported positive results.

How to treat OSA?

Somnoplasty is the shorter term for a process called Radiofrequency Tissue Reduction, and it is primarily used for treating OSA. While the term sounds a little bit intimidating, this is a very simple outpatient procedure that only requires a local anesthetic and can take less than an hour. The somnoplasty system uses a slender electrode to create small abrasions near the back of the tongue and in the tonsil area. The purpose of the lesions created is to tighten the tissue in the area and reduce it, creating more space at the back of the throat. This allows for easier breathing during sleep because there is a larger space through which air can pass through. The most recent information says that there are upwards of 22 million Americans struggling with sleep apnea, but the “gold standard” treatment with a CPAP machine turns out to be the wrong approach for many of them. Close to 40% of users can’t tolerate the CPAP machine.

Why is central sleep apnea a neurological problem?

It’s caused by a lack of stability in a person’s feedback mechanisms. Respiratory control centers in the brain are imbalanced which leads to the brain failing to give the signal to inhale.

What is the term for a period of ten seconds or more where there is a pause in breathing during

An apnea event is a period of ten seconds or more where there is a pause in breathing during sleep. Hypopneas are another breathing abnormality that occurs during sleep, and these are periods of abnormally slow or shallow breathing.

What is it called when you breathe faster and have more oxygen?

After this, the body can try to overcompensate with a period of faster or harsher breathing to get more oxygen into the bloodstream. Mixed Sleep Apnea: This is also sometimes called Complex Sleep Apnea , and it is characterized by having both types of sleep apnea at the same time.

What are the risks of sleep apnea?

Not only is this extremely dangerous, it also disrupts regular sleep which can lead to a host of other problems. Going untreated, this condition may increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetes, heart failure, irregular heartbeat, and obesity. Due to the chronic fatigue that disrupted sleep causes, it can also increase the risk of getting into a car accident. There are three types of sleep apnea:

How to cure sleep apnea?

Losing enough weight can sometimes cure the condition. Quitting smoking. Tobacco smoke can cause the airways to swell, worsening sleep apnea. Not drinking alcohol. Drinking before bedtime can cause the muscles in the upper airways to relax, making the tissue droop down into the airway. Side sleeping.

What is the most common form of sleep apnea?

In the most common form, obstructive sleep apnea, the throat muscles relax, letting the tissue in the back of the throat droop down and obstruct the airway. In addition to causing daytime sleepiness, sleep apnea is linked to a number of adverse health conditions.

What is CPAP treatment?

CPAP treatment. Short for continuous positive airway pressure, CPAP is a common treatment for moderate-to-severe sleep apnea (although research suggests it may be helpful for people with mild sleep apnea, too). It consists of a mask worn over the mouth and nose during sleep. Some people can use a mask that only covers the nose mask, ...

Why is my CPAP mask clunky?

The mask is attached to a machine that gently blows air into the airways to keep them open. CPAP is an effective treatment, but it can also be clunky. Discomfort is one reason why up to 83% of people who try CPAP don't stick with the treatment. CPAP uses the same level of pressure when you inhale and exhale.

How many people have sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a disorder that affects over 18 million adults in the U.S., according to the National Sleep Foundation. The most common treatment recommended for this condition, which can range from mild to severe, is the CPAP machine. But because it can be bulky, loud, and uncomfortable to wear, most patients don't stick with it.

What is a uvulopalatopharyngoplasty?

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty removes tissue from the upper part of the mouth and the back of the throat. Sometimes, doctors remove large tonsils and adenoids, to create more room for air to flow. Some patients, however, may still need CPAP treatment after the procedure.

Does weight loss help sleep apnea?

One way that weight loss results may help people breathe more easily at night is by shrinking tongue fat, researchers have found. Losing enough weight can sometimes cure the condition.

How to help sleep apnea?

Studies have shown weight loss can help improve symptoms and, in some cases, eliminate the need for surgery or long-term CPAP therapy. Avoid alcohol and smoking – Both have been linked to sleep apnea in studies.

What is the most common type of sleep apnea?

Obstructive Sleep Apnea, the most common type, is mechanical problem in which the muscles in the throat relax during sleep causing the airway to collapse. Central Sleep Apnea is less common and occurs when the brain fails to sent the right signals to the muscles that control breathing. Complex Sleep Apnea is when you have symptoms ...

What is the difference between central sleep apnea and complex sleep apnea?

Central Sleep Apnea is less common and occurs when the brain fails to sent the right signals to the muscles that control breathing. Complex Sleep Apnea is when you have symptoms of both obstructive and central sleep apnea. More about sleep apnea.

What is CPAP for sleep?

CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) uses an air pump and face mask to apply mild air pressure which helps the airway stay open during sleep. It’s one of the most effective treatments for sleep apnea and can be a real life changer.

How long does it take to stop using a CPAP machine?

While CPAP is one of the most effective treatments for sleep apnea, many patients stop using their machines within a year. Good news, they’re now plenty of alternatives you can try.

What is the truth about sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a very common sleep disorder in which breathing stops or gets shallow during sleep. These breathing interruptions wreck sleep and in the US alone over 18 million adults struggle with sleep apnea every night.

How does a sleep monitor work?

During sleep, it monitors your breathing and stimulates a nerve that keeps the upper airway open.

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Treatment

Function

Risks

Results

Your provider will work with you to develop a care plan that may include one or more of these treatment options.
Lifestyle modifications usually help. If unresolved, therapies and surgery will be advised.
Procedures

Septoplasty: Correction of deviated septum in nose. Usually recommended in severe cases.

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP): Removal of soft tissue on throat to widen the airway passage.

Adenoidectomy: Removal of large adenoids, a patch of soft tissues behind the nose.

Self-care

Always talk to your provider before starting anything.

  • Lose weight
  • Avoid smoking
  • Sleep on your side

Specialist to consult

Pulmonologist
Specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions that affect the respiratory system.
Sleep medicine specialist
Specializes in treating sleep disorders.
Psychiatrist
Specializes in the branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness.
Dentist
Specializes in the treatment of diseases associated with teeth and gums.
Primary care physician
Specializes in the acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health.

Examples

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Your doctor may make an evaluation based on your signs and symptoms and a sleep history, which you can provide with help from someone who shares your bed or your household, if possible. You're likely to be referred to a sleep disorder center. There, a sleep specialist can help you determine your need for further evaluation. …
See more on mayoclinic.org

Reviews

Society and culture

Management

Overview

  • Positive airway pressure machines, used with a variety of breathing masks, are the most widely used treatment for moderate and severe sleep apnea. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) has approved oral appliance therapy (OAT) as a first line treatment for patients diagnosed with mild to moderate OSA. The AASM also recommends oral appliance...
See more on sleepapnea.org

Components

  • The mask, worn snugly over the nose, or sometimes nose and mouth, during sleep, supplies pressurized air that flows continuously or intermittently into the sleepers throat. The increased air pressure prevents the sleepers airway from collapsing.
See more on sleepapnea.org

Epidemiology

  • Although there are a few over-the-counter appliances you can purchase at drug stores or even online, remember that these oral appliances are not FDA approved for sleep apnea. When not fitted properly over-the-counter appliances can cause unwanted side effects, such as jaw problems or tooth movement or can even have the opposite effect and inadvertently worsen sle…
See more on sleepapnea.org

Prevention

  • Trained dental professionals will conduct a full evaluation of your teeth, mouth, and temporomandibular joint to ensure that your teeth and jaw structure are healthy enough to wear an oral appliance. Following the examination, you will have models of your teeth made and a follow-up appointment is scheduled to fit your custom oral appliance. The American Academy o…
See more on sleepapnea.org

Variations

  • Below are just a few examples of custom made oral appliances (also known as mandibular advancement devices or MADs) that are available.
See more on sleepapnea.org

Prognosis

  • Sleep Reviews oral appliance comparison guide (up to date as of August 2015) compares 21 oral appliances side-by-side. It compares features such as fitting description, adjustment description, materials, and recommended cleaning for the different devices. Click the image to view the full 4-page comparison guide.
See more on sleepapnea.org

Administration

  • Medicare provides reimbursement for oral appliances for those 65 or older under the durable medical equipment (DME) benefit. In order to help Medicare patients with a portion of the reimbursement for oral appliances, many dentists around the country have enrolled as Medicare DME Suppliers for oral appliance therapy for obstructive sleep apnea.
See more on sleepapnea.org

Publication

  • Some people with obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, are unable to use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, the most commonly prescribed OSA treatment, despite best efforts. Now theres a new, clinically proven therapy for some people with moderate to severe OSA who are unable to use CPAP.
See more on sleepapnea.org

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