Obstructive Sleep Apnea - Knowing These Facts Can Save Your Life
Sleep Apnea SurgeryPeople who momentarily stop breathing in their sleep may be suffering from a condition known as obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep apnea refers to a chronic disorder wherein a person's breathing ceases for a few seconds to minutes, and resumes with a loud snort, or snore. There are several types of this condition. Among them is obstructive apnea, which is primarily caused by an obstruction in the air passageways of the throat or nose.
People with obstructive sleep apnea usually present with symptoms such as loud snoring and snorting in their sleep. Their cessation of breathing is usually noticed by someone who is beside them in bed. While there are no medications to treat this condition, it can be cured with other treatment options, which are discussed below.
The simplest treatment plan is positional change. Based on the structure obstructing air flow, a person suffering from OSA must change his position, usually to side-lying to promote air entry and lung expansion. This is because when lying flat on the back, the tongue, tonsils or other muscles may collapse back and block the airway.
The second treatment option is weight loss and intake modification. Some people experience sleep apneas because fat around the neck make the airways narrower. The challenge is finding the strength to exercise during the day when you haven't gotten enough sleep at night. It is also a must to avoid CNS depressants such as painkillers and sedatives, as well as alcohol intake, because these relax muscles, making them fall back more during your sleep. Herbal sleep enhancers are considered safe and non-habit forming.
You may opt for oral appliances, which can either push your lower jaw forth, prevent your tongue from falling back and blocking the airway, and a combination of both. Oral appliances must be fitted exactly to avoid discomfort, and are best for people with mild sleep apnea. They can also help in reducing loud snoring.
An invasive treatment option for obstructive sleep apnea is surgery, which aims to open up the airway by removing the excess tissue that obstructs air flow.
Finally, the most common and effective choice for people with severe OSA is CPAP, or continuous positive airway pressure, which comes in the form of a mask over one's nose and mouth. The mask blows air into the airway. The pressure is high enough to keep the airway open. Your doctor will be able to determine the best treatment option for your obstructive sleep apnea, based on its severity.
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