Sleep apnea can significantly disrupt a person's daily life. Treatment of this sleep disorder is of particular importance not only because of its potential impact on health but also because it can be fatal. Luckily there are many treatments available. Most of these seek to eliminate problematic symptoms to allow a person to sleep soundly and breath fully throughout the night.
Different treatments are available sleep apnea cases of varied severity. Most case require lifestyle changes while some might require surgery. The success of many treatments depends on how committed the patient is to making positive changes.
Following are primary sleep apnea treatments.
1. Changing lifestyle. Behavior therapy is perhaps one of the most effective methods for treating and even curing sleep apnea. Many cases of sleep apnea are the result of factors we have power to change. For example, most people suffering from this and many other sleep disorders are overweight. Indeed, obesity is commonly associated with sleep disorders. Often the most sensible treatment is to manage one's weight. Sometimes a mere drop of ten pounds is sufficient to provide results.
Other lifestyle choices that contributed to sleep apnea are smoking and drinking. Drinking before bed can cause throat muscles to over-relax. Smoking increases congestion, making breathing difficult. Sleeping on the back also increases symptoms. Try sleeping on your side instead.
2. Treatments for other conditions. Occasionally sleep apnea is the result of cause of other health conditions. The effective treatment of these problems might reduce the symptoms of sleep apnea.
3. Treatment devices. There are a host of different breathing aids that can reduce or eliminate symptoms of sleep apnea. The most commonly used is the Continuous Positive Air Pressure. CPAP makes use of a face mask that sends a continuous supply of air to the mouth and nose. This increase in pressure is enough to keep the airway from closing during sleep. Other treatments include By-level Positive Air Pressure or Adaptive Servo-Ventilation.
The face mask worn with these methods must be worn every night. It doesn't actually eliminate sleep apnea, but it does eliminate symptoms and allow comfortable sleep and breathing throughout the night.
4. Surgical procedures. Surgery is sometimes the only available option for certain severe cases of sleep apnea. Surgeries have the potential of offering permanent relief from the symptoms of sleep apnea.
Surgery can be used to remove enlarged tonsils or remedy a malformed soft palate that might make breathing difficult. Other times excess tissue in the mouth or throat area is removed to make breathing easier. Surgery is an expensive and risky option. It should only be used in certain cases after other potential avenues have been explored.
Although sleep apnea is a problematic disorder for many people, it can be cured through a number of means. Most of these require self-discipline to succeed. Lifestyle changes are never easy to accomplish and may be very difficult for some people. Giving up smoking or losing weight is often all it takes, but this can prove difficult.
The potential gains are worth the work required. Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder, and anyone suffering from it knows how difficult it can make their life. This can provide the motivation necessary to overcome difficult lifestyle changes. It is important to follow through with whatever treatment you choose as your preferred method for dealing with sleep apnea.
Different treatments are available sleep apnea cases of varied severity. Most case require lifestyle changes while some might require surgery. The success of many treatments depends on how committed the patient is to making positive changes.
Following are primary sleep apnea treatments.
1. Changing lifestyle. Behavior therapy is perhaps one of the most effective methods for treating and even curing sleep apnea. Many cases of sleep apnea are the result of factors we have power to change. For example, most people suffering from this and many other sleep disorders are overweight. Indeed, obesity is commonly associated with sleep disorders. Often the most sensible treatment is to manage one's weight. Sometimes a mere drop of ten pounds is sufficient to provide results.
Other lifestyle choices that contributed to sleep apnea are smoking and drinking. Drinking before bed can cause throat muscles to over-relax. Smoking increases congestion, making breathing difficult. Sleeping on the back also increases symptoms. Try sleeping on your side instead.
2. Treatments for other conditions. Occasionally sleep apnea is the result of cause of other health conditions. The effective treatment of these problems might reduce the symptoms of sleep apnea.
3. Treatment devices. There are a host of different breathing aids that can reduce or eliminate symptoms of sleep apnea. The most commonly used is the Continuous Positive Air Pressure. CPAP makes use of a face mask that sends a continuous supply of air to the mouth and nose. This increase in pressure is enough to keep the airway from closing during sleep. Other treatments include By-level Positive Air Pressure or Adaptive Servo-Ventilation.
The face mask worn with these methods must be worn every night. It doesn't actually eliminate sleep apnea, but it does eliminate symptoms and allow comfortable sleep and breathing throughout the night.
4. Surgical procedures. Surgery is sometimes the only available option for certain severe cases of sleep apnea. Surgeries have the potential of offering permanent relief from the symptoms of sleep apnea.
Surgery can be used to remove enlarged tonsils or remedy a malformed soft palate that might make breathing difficult. Other times excess tissue in the mouth or throat area is removed to make breathing easier. Surgery is an expensive and risky option. It should only be used in certain cases after other potential avenues have been explored.
Although sleep apnea is a problematic disorder for many people, it can be cured through a number of means. Most of these require self-discipline to succeed. Lifestyle changes are never easy to accomplish and may be very difficult for some people. Giving up smoking or losing weight is often all it takes, but this can prove difficult.
The potential gains are worth the work required. Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder, and anyone suffering from it knows how difficult it can make their life. This can provide the motivation necessary to overcome difficult lifestyle changes. It is important to follow through with whatever treatment you choose as your preferred method for dealing with sleep apnea.
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You can find plenty of information about sleep apnea online. For additional information take a look at this site on sleep apnea treatments.
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