How do you treat Sleep Apnea

Treatment of sleep apnea is determined by the patient's medical history, physical examination, and results from the sleep study. In most cases, medications are not effective in the treatment of sleep apnea. One of the ways to treat sleep apnea is through behavioral therapy. In some mild cases, changing some behaviors is all the person needs to get rid of his/her sleep apnea. The use of alcohol, tobacco, and sleeping pills make the airway more likely to collapse during sleep and they extend pauses in breathing. People who are overweight can profit from losing weight; even a ten percent drop in weight can reduce the severity of the disease.

Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) is the most common and effective treatment for sleep apnea. Nasal CPAP controls airway closure while the person uses it; pauses in breathing come back when a person removes the CPAP or uses it incorrectly.

Dental appliances are another method of treatment; these ‘orthotics’ reposition the lower jaw and tongue to open the collapsed airway similar to CPR (cardio pulmonary resuscitation). Orthotics are most effective in patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea, or a person who snores but does not have apnea.

There are numerous surgeries used in the treatment of sleep apnea, although no procedure is without risks or totally successful. Common procedures include the removal of adenoids and tonsils (most effective in children), nasal polyps or other tissue blocking the airway as well as correction of structural deformities. Younger patients seem to benefit more than older people when undergoing surgical procedures.