Treatment FAQ

what is the most common treatment for sleep apnea

by Andy Weber Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).
Although CPAP is the most common and reliable method of treating sleep apnea, some people find it cumbersome or uncomfortable.
Jul 28, 2020

Procedures

  • Oral appliances are custom-made by your dentist and are designed to either push the lower jaw and tongue forward or keep the tongue in place in order to keep the ...
  • Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty removes tissue from the upper part of the mouth and the back of the throat. ...
  • Somnoplasty uses radiofrequency energy to trim excess tissue in the upper airway.

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Self-care

Top 20 Home Remedies for Sleep Apnea and the Ultimate Guide to A Good Sleep

  • Introduction. In this article, Authority Remedies will shed light on top 20 natural home remedies for sleep apnea.
  • Sleep Apnea Symptoms. Sleep apnea can bring a lot of symptoms, most of which are annoying. ...
  • Home Remedies for Sleep Apnea. ...

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The following are the most natural way of preventing this disorder:

  • Sleep on your side – It has been found that those who snore generally sleep on their back. ...
  • Elevate your head – You can prop your upper body by using pillows in order to allow oxygen to go through your airways.
  • Exercise for throat and tongue – There is an exercise for the throat and tongue which strengthens them. ...

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What are the different alternative treatments for sleep apnea?

What are the benefits of treating sleep apnea? If your energy level, mood and productivity are being zapped by sleep apnea, you’re likely to really notice the benefits of treatment. You can expect improvements in your awakeness as well as a reduction in daytime headaches – if sleep apnea was causing them or making them worse.

Is it possible to treat sleep apnea naturally?

How to cure sleep apnea naturally at home without CPAP?

What are the benefits of treating sleep apnea?

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What are 2 treatment options available for someone with sleep apnea?

The increased air pressure prevents the sleeper's airway from collapsing. The pressurized air is supplied through a flexible tube from one of several types of machines: CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure), BiPAP (bilevel positive airway pressure), VPAP (variable positive airway pressure), and so on.

What is the best and most commonly used treatment for obstructive sleep apnea?

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.

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.

Which treatment may be prescribed for sleep apnea?

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) CPAP is the most common treatment for sleep apnea.

Which is better CPAP or oral appliance?

Studies have found that oral devices for mild to moderate cases are just as effective as a CPAP machine for “reducing the risk of fatal cardiovascular events.” However, a CPAP machine is recommended for extremely or morbidly obese persons or those that have more severe cases of obstructive sleep apnea.

Is CPAP the only treatment for sleep apnea?

CPAP is the standard treatment for OSA, but it's not the only treatment. If you've tried a CPAP machine and it didn't work for you, ask your doctor about other options like oral appliances or surgery. Along with taking OSA treatment, try maintaining healthy habits.

What is the best alternative to a CPAP machine?

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.

What helps sleep apnea without a machine?

Here are six alternative treatments to reduce sleep apnea symptoms.Maintain a healthy weight. Doctors commonly recommend people with sleep apnea to lose weight. ... Try yoga. ... Alter your sleep position. ... Use a humidifier. ... Avoid alcohol and smoking. ... Use oral appliances.

Is APAP or CPAP better?

CPAP is often better than APAP for obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with sleepiness and cardiovascular and metabolic morbidity and mortality. The standard of treatment is full, attended polysomnography (PSG) while adjusting positive airway pressure (PAP).

Do sleeping pills help sleep apnea?

Unfortunately, many people confuse sleeping pills as being viable ways to treat sleep apnea. The reality is that the pills (also referred to as sedative hypnotics) are designed to help people with insomnia rest at night, which is a different issue than what those with sleep apnea are facing.

What is the best sleep position for sleep apnea?

Sleeping on the left side It's by far the most effective sleep position to help control sleep apnea. It's considered to encourage blood flow, reduce snoring and calm sleep apnea. In fact, research points out that left side-sleepers experience less severe sleep apnea occurrences.

What happens if sleep apnea is left untreated?

If left untreated, sleep apnea can result in a number of health problems including hypertension, stroke, arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy (enlargement of the muscle tissue of the heart), heart failure, diabetes, obesity and heart attacks.

What is Oral Appliance Therapy?

An oral device is a mouth-guard-like appliance that’s worn exclusively during sleep, similar to a mouth guard used for sports, or a mouth guard designed to stop te eth grinding. The device realigns the jaw into a forward position to prevent blockage of the airway.

Is A CPAP Machine Right For You?

Generally, you should follow your doctor’s recommendations if you suffer from sleep apnea. If your sleep apnea is severe enough to warrant a CPAP machine, that’s probably the right choice for you.

What is the best treatment for sleep apnea?

Treatment with a PAP device is considered to be the current gold standard in sleep apnea treatment and is offered as initial therapy to the majority of patients. The most common way of receiving PAP therapy is with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices, which deliver air with a consistent pressure level.

How to get rid of sleep apnea?

Special exercises of the mouth and throat, technically known as myofunctional therapy and/or oropharyngeal exercises , can tone these muscles so that they stay more taut during sleep. Doing these exercises daily for a few months has been found to reduce the severity of OSA 23. Though exercises may need to be combined with other treatments for optimal results, they have virtually no costs or side effects, making them a low-risk inclusion in sleep apnea treatment plans.

What is the most common sleep disorder?

Sleep apnea is one of the most common sleep disorders and one that can have significant health consequences if left untreated. It is marked by disrupted breathing, fragmented sleep, and a decreased oxygen level in the body.

Can smoking cigarettes cause sleep apnea?

Active smokers have an increased risk of obstructive sleep apnea 11 relative to former smokers and people who have never smoked. This research indicates that quitting smoking or never starting to smoke in the first place can help prevent and/or treat OSA. One large study also found that cigarette smoking can cause a more severe form 12 of obstructive sleep apnea and increased daytime sleepiness.

Can alcohol cause OSA?

Alcohol and sedative medications cause slackening of the tissues near the airway, contributing to a heightened risk of airway collapse and OSA 10. Alcohol can cause fragmented and lower-quality sleep because of its effects on sleep cycles. For these reasons, reducing or eliminating the use of alcohol and sedatives, especially in the hours leading up to bedtime, is frequently advised for patients with OSA.

Does weight loss help with sleep apnea?

Excess weight and obesity are driving factors behind many cases of obstructive sleep apnea, and research has found that losing weight can lessen the severity of OSA 2. A lower body weight can decrease the size of fat deposits in the tongue 3 and back of the throat 4 that can restrict the airway. Weight loss can also reduce abdominal girth that affects lung capacity 5.

Can sleep apnea cause drowsiness?

Obstructive sleep apnea can cause significant daytime drowsiness, and it’s important for people with OSA to be aware of this issue, especially if they spend significant time driving or operating heavy machinery.

What to do if you have sleep apnea?

For milder cases of sleep apnea, your doctor may recommend only lifestyle changes, such as losing weight or quitting smoking. If you have nasal allergies, your doctor will recommend treatment for your allergies.

How to stop snoring and sleep apnea?

To eliminate snoring and prevent sleep apnea, your doctor may recommend a device called a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. A CPAP machine delivers just enough air pressure to a mask to keep your upper airway passages open, preventing snoring and sleep apnea.

What is a CPAP machine?

With CPAP (SEE-pap), the air pressure is somewhat greater than that of the surrounding air and is just enough to keep your upper airway passages open , preventing apnea and snoring .

What causes central sleep apnea?

Possible causes of central sleep apnea include heart or neuromuscular disorders , and treating those conditions might help. Supplemental oxygen. Using supplemental oxygen while you sleep might help if you have central sleep apnea. Various forms of oxygen are available with devices to deliver oxygen to your lungs.

What tests are done to detect sleep apnea?

Tests to detect sleep apnea include: Nocturnal polysomnography. During this test, you're hooked up to equipment that monitors your heart, lung and brain activity, breathing patterns, arm and leg movements, and blood oxygen levels while you sleep. Home sleep tests.

What is a sleep specialist?

You're likely to be referred to a sleep disorder center. There, a sleep specialist can help you determine your need for further evaluation. An evaluation often involves overnight monitoring at a sleep center of your breathing and other body functions during sleep. Home sleep testing also might be an option.

How to get rid of a swollen throat?

Try to get 30 minutes of moderate activity, such as a brisk walk, most days of the week. Avoid alcohol and certain medications such as tranquilizers and sleeping pills. These relax the muscles in the back of your throat, interfering with breathing. Sleep on your side or abdomen rather than on your back.

What Are the Types of Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): OSA occurs when the airway at the back of the throat becomes physically blocked. That obstruction causes temporary lapses in breath.

How Common Is Sleep Apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea is estimated to affect between 2-9% of adults 2 in the United States, but many cases are believed to go undiagnosed 3, which fits with studies that have found considerably higher rates of OSA. Precise prevalence is hard to determine because studies have used different criteria for diagnosing the condition. A consistent finding, though, is that OSA affects men more than women 4. It can occur in people of any age but is more common in older adults.

What Are the Health Risks of Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea can lead to sleep deprivation from constant nightly interruptions and shallower overall sleep. Lack of sleep is associated with far-reaching health consequences that affect a person physically, mentally, and emotionally, and as a result, it comes as no surprise that sleep apnea has been tied to diverse health problems.

What is obstructive sleep apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when a person’s airway becomes blocked during sleep. Multiple factors have been found to increase the risk of blockage and OSA:

What is it called when you have both OSA and CSA?

Mixed Sleep Apnea: When a person has both OSA and CSA at the same time, it is referred to as mixed sleep apnea or complex sleep apnea. Because the underlying causes are distinct, there are important differences in the symptoms, causes, and treatments of OSA and CSA. Get tested for sleep apnea from the convenience of your own bedroom!

How effective is OSA treatment?

If a person is diagnosed with OSA or CSA, treatment is often effective at improving sleep and reducing the risks of long-term health complications. A doctor familiar with a patient’s situation is in the best position to address potential benefits and risks of treatments and make specific recommendations.

Why is it important to know about sleep apnea?

Because of sleep apnea’s prevalence and potential health impact, it is important for people to be aware of what sleep apnea is and to know its types, symptoms, causes, and treatments.

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Diagnosis

Treatment

Clinical Trials

Lifestyle and Home Remedies

Medically reviewed by
Dr. Govind Desai
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.

Preparing For Your Appointment

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