Effective Sleep Apnea Treatments
There are many different types of sleep apnea treatments available. The most appropriate way to decide which treatment is right for you would be to see what type of sleep apnea you have. To determine what type of sleep apnea you have, you must take a sleep study, whether it is a home sleep test or in lab test. Treatment for sleep apnea allows you to effectively control the condition.
The most common type of sleep apnea is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). This occurs when there is an obstruction in your airway, preventing oxygen from getting to your lungs. Essentially, when this obstruction occurs, usually due to the relaxation of the muscles and soft tissues around the throat, you stop breathing momentarily. Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) is a type of apnea in which their is a disconnect between the part of your brain which sends signals to breath and the diaphragm muscles, also causing you to stop breathing momentarily.
Undergoing Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy (CPAP) is the most common type of treatment for sleep apnea. With this type of treatment, the patient wears a mask that is attached to a machine. This machine blows air at a certain constant pressure while sleeping. This pressure effectively keeps the airway open throughout the night. A BIPAP is another treatment option in which there are 2 different pressures, that are automatically adjusted while exhaling and inhaling providing for a more comfortable sleep for those who require it. An APAP is another variation in which the pressure adjusts according to need based on the patient’s breathing levels. The APAP units are set within a range that the pressure is constantly readjusting between.
A secondary method of treatment is the use of oral appliances. These appliances are placed in your mouth each evening. While you are sleeping, it works to maintain tongue and jaw alignment to prevent any obstructions of your airway from occurring. Although these are an accepted form of treatment for sleep apnea, the use of a CPAP, APAP, or BIPAP is definitely more effective.
Other treatments consist of lifestyle changes in which you would alter the position that you sleep in, weight loss, or cessation of smoking. These changes, paired with a treatment mentioned above, would best suit you for treating and controlling your sleep apnea.
