Sleep Apnea Treatment and Cure.

Once diagnosed, importance of treating sleep apnea, whether it be obstructive or central, can be gauged from the serious complications that can arise if sleep apnea is left untreated. Sudden death can occur because of these complications and therefore sleep apnea cure becomes essential.  Statistics show that only 10% of the cases undergo treatment while the rest of the 90% do not know that they have sleep apnea or do not seek treatment.

Aim of Sleep Apnea Treatments.

Treatment of sleep apnea aims at

  • Restoring normal breathing during sleep.
  • Treating the cause to get relief from symptoms such as loud snoring and daytime sleepiness

What Sleep Apnea Treatments Are Available.

Sleep apnea treatments range from self-help and adopting certain lifestyle changes for mild sleep apnea to conservative measures and surgery for moderate to severe sleep apnea. These treatments are mentioned below.

Self Help and Life Style Changes to Cure Sleep Apnea.

This is basically to treat minor causes that could be causing your sleep apnea and is effective to cure sleep apnea of mild nature. The following lifestyle adaptations are called for if you have sleep apnea symptoms.

  • Losing weight. Obesity is a known contributing factor of sleep apnea. If you are overweight or obese, losing excess weight can correct mild to moderate sleep apnea cases. Weight loss can open up the throat due to loss of fat in the neck and significantly improve symptoms. Losing even 10% of the excess weight can improve your symptoms by 25%.
  • Quitting smoking. Smoking causes inflammation and fluid retention in the neck and upper part of the airway which causes swelling around the airway causing its compression and consequent obstruction. Smokers are three times more likely to develop obstructive sleep apnea than non smokers. Quitting smoking significantly improves sleep apnea symptoms.
  • Avoid alcohol. Alcohol does cause the airway muscles to relax thereby causing it to collapse leading to obstructive sleep apnea.
  • Avoid sleeping pills and sedatives. Sleeping pills cause the throat muscles to relax leading to collapse of the airway and this negatively impacts breathing.
  • Avoid caffeine and a heavy meal at least two hours before going to bed.
  • Sleep on your side or abdomen and avoid sleeping on your back  as this will prevent the soft palate and tongue from falling to the back of your throat. This measure will help to keep the throat and airway open. Use a pillow or keep a tennis ball sewed to the back of your pajama top to prevent you from sleeping on the back in your sleep.
  • Keep your head up. See to it that when you sleep your head is 4 to 6 inches above the waist. Use of a special or cervical pillow will help.
  • Keep your nasal passages open to ensure proper breathing. You could use nasal sprays before going to bed to ensure this.
  • Throat exercises involving tongue and soft palate will help to strengthen the muscles of the airway preventing its collapse. Such exercises may reduce the severity of the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea reports the American Journal of Sleep and Respiratory Critical Medicine. Such exercises involve suction, chewing, swallowing, breathing and speech and are to be performed for about 20 minutes everyday.
  • Diet for sleep apnea. Avoid a spicy, oily and  heavy meal at night. Foods to sleep well will explain the diet in more detail and if you are overweight you should read diet to lose weight.

Medication for Sleep Apnea.

Usually medicines are not prescribed for treating obstructive sleep apnea. Medicines for sleep apnea are mainly given to treat the underlying cause of sleep apnea. It could be an infected  and enlarged tonsil or a nasal infection in which case antibiotics may be necessary.

In cases of central sleep apnea, medicines become necessary to treat the cause such as a heart disease or a neurological disorder. Read causes of central sleep apnea

Medicines may also be prescribed to reduce daytime sleepiness when CPAP reduces the number of apneas but daytime sleepiness continues. The FDA of the U.S. has approved wakefulness promoting medicines which are to be used for patients on CPAP with daytime sleepiness. Examples of such drugs include Modafinil (brand name Provigil) and Amodafinil (Nuvigil).

Supplemental Oxygen Support.

Giving of oxygen during sleep to supplement the lowered blood oxygen levels may help in cases of central sleep apnea. However this therapy does have its pros and cons and your sleep specialist will decide whether it is useful for you or not.

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Related posts:

  1. Surgery Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
  2. Apnea and Sleep Apnea – A Dangerous Sleep Disorder.
  3. How is Sleep Apnea Diagnosed.
  4. Sleep Apnea Symptoms and Signs.
  5. CPAP Machine for Sleep Apnea.
  6. Sleep Apnea Equipment – Oral and Dental Devices.
  7. Effects and Complications of Sleep Apnea.
  8. UPPP – Sleep Apnea Surgery.