Many people find themselves diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea when they go to their doctor complaining of fatigue. People with sleep apnea periodically stop breathing while they sleep. This can lead to reduced sleep quality, and it can even be dangerous if breathing stops for an extended period of time. In the case of obstructive sleep apnea, this lack of breathing occurs when something obstructs the airway. Your own soft palate and throat can inhibit your breathing if your muscles go slack when you fall asleep.
Fortunately, there are treatments designed to help people who suffer from this condition. An ENT specialist will send you for a sleep study. Based on the results, they will give you one or more treatments to help you breathe through the night. Here are three ways you may be treated for sleep apnea:
1. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Machine
CPAP machines are commonly prescribed to patients with obstructive sleep apnea. They're designed for home use, and they are portable enough to fit in a suitcase if you need to travel. Your CPAP machine comes with a mask that fits over your nose. While you sleep, humidified air is blown through a tube and into your nostrils. The stream of air creates gentle pressure on your airway, which can keep your muscles from collapsing as you sleep. In order for your treatment to be effective, you will need to use your CPAP machine every night.
2. Oral Appliance Therapy
If your soft palate or tongue is causing your obstructive sleep apnea, oral appliance therapy can help. Your dentist will fit you with a custom device that looks like a mouthguard. While typical mouthguards are designed to reduce bruxism, oral appliances made for sleep apnea treatment keep your jaw in position. When your jaw is positioned forward through the aid of this device, your tongue and soft palate will rest in a way that gives you space to breathe. Oral appliance therapy can also eliminate snoring.
3. Recommendation For Lifestyle Changes
Your ENT specialist may recommend you make changes to your lifestyle in addition to other treatments. People who are overweight are more likely to experience sleep apnea. Smokers are more likely to suffer from this condition as well. Safe weight reduction techniques can alleviate the severity of your symptoms. Some patients see their sleep apnea completely disappear with weight loss and smoking cessation. If you're not sure how to go about losing weight, your doctor can help you come up with a plan.
Talk to a doctor about obstructive sleep apnea treatments to learn more.