What Is Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment?
The easiest way to relieve the symptoms is to sleep on your side instead of back, eliminate alcohol, and avoid sleeping pills. However, all forms, especially severe obstructive sleep apnea, have to be treated accordingly.
There are several ways, except for obstructive sleep apnea oral appliance therapy, that are applicable to grant you safer and healthier sleep. Keep in mind that only a doctor can decide which type of treatment will be suitable for you.
Weight Loss
The first step to make while fighting the disorder is to lose weight. Even the slightest changes can make a difference, so it’s important to stick to healthier nutrition and have regular physical activities.
Decongestants for Stuffy Nose
The congested nose is a widespread factor that causes an OSA. Therefore, nasal decongestants and sprays will be very effective and allow reducing snoring.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Device
This device is essential in OSA treatment. It is a mask that you should wear during the night. It will help you to receive positive airflow during the night that will allow your airways to stay open. This way of treatment of the disorder is highly effective. Keep in mind that CPAP might also require an additional dental device to keep the lower jaw in the right position.
Oral Device
It is a mandibular advancement device that can help to keep your tongue away from blocking your airways. Thus, they will stay open during sleep, and the OSA syndrome will be alleviated.
Surgery
Several surgery types can be used as an obstructive sleep apnea treatment. These might include the following:
- Somnoplasty. In this case, radiofrequency energy will be applied to tighten your throat tissue.
- Nasal surgery. Sometimes, a deviated septum can cause snoring, as well as block your airways. The surgery aims at correcting such obstructions.
- Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, or simply UPPP. It is the simple procedure when a surgeon takes out some excessive soft tissue of your throat or palate to make your airways wider. Thus, you can improve your sleep and get rid of the problem.
- Mandibular or maxillary advancement surgery. A surgeon will move your facial bones, including jaw, a little bit forward to create more space in your throat so that you can breathe more easily. It is a serious surgery that is recommended for people with a severe form of OSA.
- For people with OSA, surgical removal of enlarged tonsils and adenoids is also recommended.
- Stimulation of upper airways. A certain device will be surgically installed under your chest skin. One wire will track your breathing activity pattern, and another one will send signals to airway muscle nerves to keep it open. You will have a remote control to turn it on-off before or after sleep.
- Tracheostomy is the last resort procedure that can be applied if the person can’t breathe at all. In this case, the opening will be created in the windpipe to bypass the throat obstruction.