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How Is Sleep Apnea Treated?

Diagnosing And Treating Sleep Apnea

If you think you might have sleep apnea, the first thing you need to do is visit with an ENT doctor to get a diagnosis. You may have to see a sleep specialist as well. You will give a detailed account of your medical history because some of it may be relevant to sleep apnea. You may be asked to do a sleep study in a sleep lab or at your own home. This will help record the activity during your sleep in order to figure out what is going on. If you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, there are several outlets for treatments.

Positive Airway Treatment Devices

Positive airway pressure machines can have a variety of masks and are widely used devices when it comes to treating sleep apnea, whether it is moderate or severe. The mask is placed snugly over the nose or even the nose and mouth when you sleep to provide pressurized air that flows continuously or from time to time into your throat. The increased pressure prevents your airway from collapsing. The CPAP machine is one of the most commonly used devices. Those who have sleep apnea and use the device say they feel better and more rested. It can also help with snoring if sleep apnea is causing snoring to occur.

Oral Appliances

Oral Appliances are increasing in popularity for sleep apnea treatments as the public becomes more aware of how they can help. There are over 100 different oral appliances that are FDA approved and they can treat sleep apnea, snoring, and many other ailments. The appliances are worn in the mouth, like a mouth guard, when you sleep. They basically hold the lower jaw forward enough to keep the airway open so the tongue and muscles don’t collapse and block the airway. This is often the first line of treatment for patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea and it is a good option for those who can’t tolerate wearing a CPAP device.

Weight Loss

About 70% of the people who have sleep apnea are overweight and that is the cause of their issue. Health care professionals may advise them to lose weight, which can lead to less or lighter snoring and diminished effects from sleep apnea. There may even be weight loss medications prescribed or other forms of healthy weight loss in order to aid the progress.

Surgery

Sometimes, surgery is the best answer for a serious condition. The surgeon can determine the part of the upper airway that is causing the obstruction and treat that site in a number of ways. Some surgeons have a very high success rate with these surgeries.

Consult The Experts

The professionals at Breathe Clear Institute want you to breathe clearly at all hours of the day or night. Contact us to book an appointment and let’s take a look at your medical history and current sleep apnea issues and see what we can do to moving you toward a solution and a good night of sleep at least!