Treatment FAQ

what is the most effective treatment for sleep apnea?

by Prof. Lesly Johns Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine is the most common and most reliable method for treating it. The CPAP machine pushes a steady stream of air through a mask that you wear while you sleep. It keeps your airway open.Nov 2, 2021

Procedures

 · The good news is in most cases, sleep apnea can be successfully treated so that you can be on your way to a better night’s rest. Consider some of the following treatment options: 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 …

Self-care

 · The machine used (CPAP) delivers air pressure through a mask you will wear while sleeping. This machine ensures upper airway passages are open, preventing snoring and apnea. Even though CPAP is the most common machine used to treat sleep apnea, some people find it challenging to cope with wearing a mask all night.

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Central Sleep Apnea Treatments Treating the medical condition that is also causing central sleep apnea. Congestive heart failure or the aftermath of a... Cutting back or eliminating the use of opiods. Studies have proved that more powerful pain medications such as morphine,... Continuous positive ...

What are the different alternative treatments for sleep apnea?

 · 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. Although CPAP is the most common and reliable method of treating sleep apnea, some people find it cumbersome or uncomfortable.

Is it possible to treat sleep apnea naturally?

 · Sleep Apnea Treatment Without CPAP When most patients have sleep apnea, their doctors may recommend that they use a CPAP machine. TheContinuous Positive Airway Pressure machine is designed to give you constant pressurized air so that your airways remain open. However, there are reasons for not using CPAP, such as: Cost Compliance requirements

How to cure sleep apnea naturally at home without CPAP?

A) The truth about sleep apnea treatment REPEATEDLY . In the morning, you wake up feeling as if you haven’t sleep at all and spend the day as a sleep-deprived... CPAP is one of the most effective treatments for sleep apnea and can be a real life changer. Unfortunately, many... If …

What are the benefits of treating sleep apnea?

 · Mouth, Throat, and Windpipe Surgeries Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) or Upper Airway Surgery. UPPP is the most commonly performed surgery for OSA and has... Tonsillectomy. Although less common than UPPP, tonsil removal surgery or tonsillectomy 10 can be a useful treatment for... Tracheotomy. Also ...

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 · 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.

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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.

How can I permanently fix sleep apnea?

Can Obstructive Sleep Apnea Be Cured? Sleep apnea is a chronic condition. Mild cases can be improved with lifestyle changes, such as weight loss, increase in physical activity, or quitting smoking and drinking. However, in all cases, CPAP therapy remains the gold standard for treatment.

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 are two treatment options for sleep apnea?

Which sleep apnea treatment options for you?Positive Airway Pressure Devices. ... Oral Appliances. ... Neuro-stimulation Therapy. ... Continued Excessive Daytime Sleepiness. ... Weight Loss. ... Nasal Decongestants. ... Positional Therapy. ... Surgery (Adults)More items...

What should I avoid if I have sleep apnea?

Burgers, steak, pork, bacon, lamb, and sausage are all meats that are high in saturated fats. Eating too much of these items can cause inflammation throughout your body, which can lead to cardiovascular problems. This is a big risk factor if you have sleep apnea, so it's best to avoid consuming these products.

Can severe sleep apnea be cured?

The Road to a Cure This is simply not the case for sleep apnea — for most, it's a lifelong condition. The good news is that consistent treatment can drastically reduce symptoms, helping patients sleep better and have more fulfilled lives.

What is better than 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 can be used instead of a CPAP machine?

5 Sleep Apnea Treatment OptionsOral Appliances. Just as there are dental professionals who specialize in orthodontics or dental implants, there are also those who can help with sleep apnea. ... Oral Surgery. In some cases, genetics can be the cause of sleep apnea. ... Weight Loss. ... Positional Therapy. ... Inspire Therapy.

Whats the difference between a CPAP and a BiPAP?

While CPAP generally delivers a single pressure, BiPAP delivers two: an inhale pressure and an exhale pressure. These two pressures are known as inhalation positive airway pressure (IPAP) and exhalation positive airway pressure (EPAP).

What is the best sleep position for sleep apnea?

Sleeping on Your Right Side Side sleeping is the preferred position for helping calm your sleep apnea. Sleeping on your right side reduces snoring and encourages blood flow.

What is the average cost of 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. Most CPAP machines fall in the $500 to $800 range, however. BiPAP (Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure) machines are more complex and tend to cost more as a result.

How long can you live with sleep apnea?

If left untreated, obstructive sleep apnea can shorten your life from anywhere between 12-15 years. While there is no permanent cure for obstructive sleep apnea, diagnosis and treatment will alleviate its effects. Proper treatment can ensure that your OSA won't shorten your life.

Can sleep apnea be cured naturally?

Maintaining a healthy weight can keep your airways clear and reduce sleep apnea symptoms. Research shows that modest weight reduction in people with obesity can eliminate the need for upper airway surgery or long-term CPAP therapy. In some cases, weight loss can eliminate sleep apnea.

Can you live a long life with sleep apnea?

Risks of obstructive sleep apnea Sleep apnea is dangerous because if untreated, it leads to high blood pressure and is associated with an increased chance of heart attack, abnormal heart rhythms and heart failure. Studies have shown that sleep apnea can decrease life expectancy by several years.

How do I get rid of sleep apnea without CPAP?

5 Sleep Apnea Treatment OptionsOral Appliances. Just as there are dental professionals who specialize in orthodontics or dental implants, there are also those who can help with sleep apnea. ... Oral Surgery. In some cases, genetics can be the cause of sleep apnea. ... Weight Loss. ... Positional Therapy. ... Inspire Therapy.

Is sleep apnea lifelong?

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a serious and lifelong medical condition that affects between 18 and 30 million adults over 18 in the US¹; with approximately 90% of them undiagnosed. OSA is a chronic, lifelong medical condition that can affect your sleep, health and quality of life.

What is central sleep apnea?

Central sleep apnea is a neurological condition —in other words, the brain is not sending the correct signals to the respiratory system to keep breathing while the patient sleeps. Sometimes another medical condition causes CSA; sometimes, pain medication can lead to it; and sometimes, the apnea occurs for no known reason.

Does codeine cause sleep apnea?

Studies have proved that more powerful pain medications such as morphine, codeine and oxycodone can cause central sleep apnea. Reducing the dosage or not taking them altogether can help, but discussing this option with your doctor and with a sleep specialist is important.

Can CSA cause snoring?

CSA patients might not snore, may be at their ideal weight, and may have not had a history of sleep disorders yet still find themselves with the condition characterized by pauses in breathing many times during the night. Central sleep apnea is a neurological condition—in other words, the brain is not sending the correct signals to ...

What is a phrenic nerve?

Phrenic nerve stimulation is delivered by a pacemaker-like implantable device that stimulates a nerve in the chest (phrenic nerve) to send signals to the diaphragm to control breathing. It monitors respiratory signals while you sleep and helps restore normal breathing patterns.

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.

Does PAP therapy help with sleep apnea?

Studies of the effect of PAP therapy show that people with sleep apnea who consistently use their machines feel better and, as a result of the reduction of apnea and hypopnea episodes during sleep, encounter fewer complications of the disease . There’s more information about PAP therapy here.

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.

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.

Does sleep apnea cause sleepiness?

Sometimes individuals with treated sleep apnea still experience excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), a chronic condition, and need help with improving wakefulness. We know this sleep deficit is contributing to worsening co-existing medical conditions and impacts human performance as well as cognitive abilities.

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.

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 get rid of obstructive sleep apnea?

Exercise. Regular exercise can help ease the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea even without weight loss. 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.

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.

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.

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.

How does a CPAP machine help with sleep apnea?

A CPAP machine delivers just enough air pressure to a mask to keep your upper airway passages open , preventing snoring and sleep apnea. For milder cases of sleep apnea, your doctor may recommend only lifestyle changes, such as losing weight or quitting smoking.

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 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 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. CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) ...

Can you stop using CPAP for sleep apnea?

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. The latest sleep apnea devices include more comfortable air pressure systems, body positioners, innovative nerve stimulators, and surgically implanted suspension lines.

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.

Can sleep apnea cause high blood pressure?

If this describes you, don’t give up – the health effects of untreated sleep apnea are serious. Yes, sleep apnea can disrupt sleep and leave you feeling miserable throughout the day. It can also put you at risk for other serious health issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and depression.

Can sleep apnea cause depression?

Yes, sleep apnea can disrupt sleep and leave you feeling miserable throughout the day. It can also put you at risk for other serious health issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and depression. ADVERTISEMENT. ADVERTISEMENT.

How does a sleep monitor work?

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

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.

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.

Is sleep apnea a health problem?

In addition to causing daytime sleepiness, sleep apnea is linked to a number of adverse health conditions. These include type 2 diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure. Getting treatment as soon as possible can help prevent complications like these. Mild sleep apnea may respond to lifestyle changes, such as:

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.

Does smoking cause sleep apnea?

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. Back sleeping can worsen snoring and sleep apnea.

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, ...

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Treatment

Function

Risks

Results

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.

Examples

  • 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

Reviews

  • 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

Society and culture

  • 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

Management

  • 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

Overview

  • 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

Components

  • 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

Epidemiology

  • 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

Prevention

  • 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

Variations

  • This is a new therapy that works inside your body, and with your natural breathing process, to treat moderate to severe sleep apnea. This therapy might be right for you if:
See more on sleepapnea.org

Prognosis

  • The system consists of three components: a small generator, a breathing sensor lead, and a stimulation leadall controlled by the small handheld Inspire sleep remote. Simply turn the therapy on at night before bed, and off in the morning when you wake up. When activated, Inspire therapy continuously monitors your breathing patterns during sleep and delivers mild stimulation to key …
See more on sleepapnea.org

Administration

  • About 70 percent of people with obstructive sleep apnea are overweight or obese. Their health care professionals usually encourage them to lose weight.
See more on sleepapnea.org

Publication

  • Some people snore or have sleep apnea only when sleeping on their back. Such people can eliminate or reduce airway blockage simply by learning to sleep on their side.
See more on sleepapnea.org

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