Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment

Once the doctor confirms that you have obstructive sleep apnea based on the signs, symptoms, physical examination, and the polysomnography test results, he or she will suggest a treatment plan by considering the type of problem you face. During the physical examination at an ENT clinic like earnosethroat.com.sg, the doctor will examine your nose, back of your throat, and mouth to detect extra tissue abnormalities. Also, the doctor will check your blood pressure and measure the circumference of your neck and waist.

Depending on the case’s seriousness, the doctor will recommend the treatment that provides the best results. The doctor would recommend lifestyle changes for milder cases, and for more severe problems, the doctor would recommend some therapies like positive airway pressure therapy or mouthpiece therapy.

Lifestyle changes

If the sleep apnea patient is overweight, the doctor would recommend losing weight by exercising regularly. He or she would also advise to quit smoking tobacco and restrict alcohol consumption to a moderate level. Not sleeping on your back and using a nasal decongestant are the other remedies that the doctor would suggest, along with a complete ban on sleeping pills and other sedative medications.

If the treatment does not give results, the doctor would recommend some other treatment using some devices that open up a blocked airway. If this option fails, then surgical procedures are the last resort.

Positive airway pressure

Those suffering from sleep apnea would benefit from positive airway pressure therapy. The treatment consists of a machine that delivers positive air pressure administered through a piece of device that fits into your nose or covers your nose and mouth when you are asleep. Positive airway pressure reduces the number of events of respiratory problems during sleep and reduces daytime sleepiness that improves your quality of life.

Continuous positive airway pressure or CPAP is the most common type of obstructive sleep apnea treatment. The treatment ensures that the inhaled air pressure is constant and continuous, and slightly higher than the surrounding air to keep the upper airway passages open. As a result, it prevents snoring and disruptions in breathing.

Since the treatment requires that the patient wears a mask when sleeping, it might make some people feel uncomfortable and loud. However, newer types of machines have much lower noise levels, and various types of masks are available to ensure patients’ comfort.  Some machines have pressure adjusting arrangements that allow adjustment of the pressure whenever there is increased air resistance.

Mouthpiece

This oral device is an alternative to the traditional CPAP treatment because it is often effective in many patients. However, the mouthpieces are effective only for those with mild to moderate sleep apnea. The devices are effective in reducing the problems and improve your quality of life. The device design helps keep your throat open, and some other devices bring your jaw forward that helps keep the airway open and reduce snoring and sleep apnea.

To use this device, you must seek help from a dentist who has experience in dental sleep medicine appliances.