One Problem: Sleep Apnea; Treatments -Many!

Getting the right treatment for sleep apnea is vital. People who are diagnosed with this disorder need to seek early medical help to avoid the potentially dangerous effects of this condition. With research into the possible causes of sleep apnea, successful treatments have been developed.

Go To The Doctor

Based on the severity of your condition and other health factors, your treatment options for sleep apnea may include one or more of the following. The first thing you doctor may recommend is a weight loss program. Although losing weight may not cure your sleep apnea, many people report a marked decrease in their symptoms. Excess fat deposits, especially around the neck area, may further restrict airflow in already narrowed breathing passages.

Weight reduction may not be easy in someone who suffers from sleep apnea because one of the key symptoms is fatigue, which may make exercising a more strenuous procedure. That's why it's very important to select realistic ways to lose weight without causing additional stress on the body. For this very reason, a weight loss program is usually combined with other treatment options for sleep apnea.

Positional Therapy

Positional therapy is often successful. The basic idea is that sleep apnea is more likely to occur when the person is lying flat on their backs. In this position, the tongue may fall back in the mouth, closing or partially covering the airway. There are several products to buy that may help in this situation.

Specially designed cushions may be used to keep the sleeper on their backs. There are also pillows that position the neck in a way that should prevent snoring and therefore mild forms of sleep apnea. For those people who may need a more aggressive approach, there are alarms that are set to go off when the sleep position changes, although some people report that this kind of device disrupts their sleep too much.

Oral appliances are another treatment option for sleep apnea. These work by pushing the lower jaw forward or by preventing the tongue from covering the air passageway during sleep. If you choose this option, be sure to find a dentist with experience with these types of devices. If they are fitted incorrectly, your sleep apnea symptoms may actually worsen.

Doctors also stress that people who have this disorder should avoid alcohol and other depressants that act on the central nervous system. These things may further relax your airway muscles and increase the episodes of sleep apnea. If you need certain medications, like pain relievers or sedatives, try not to take them close to bedtime.

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