Sleep Apnea Treatment

To be able to relieve the symptoms of sleep apnea like loud snoring, sleepiness during daytime and to restore regular breathing while asleep, the patient can be treated with some of the available procedures and instruments. Though the doctors will recommend, it is with the patient to agree which is most suitable for him.

Some specific types of treatment includes Lifestyle changes, mouthpieces, breathing devices and surgery. As I search the internet, I could not see any answer if there are already medicines to treat sleep apnea.


Lifestyle Change

This type of treatment suits patients with only mild sleep apnea. Only some of the daily activities or habits should change like taking medicines that make him sleepy. Alcohol also makes a person sleepy so it is advised to avoid drinking such.

Overweight or obese patients has to lose weight. That would be a simple diet to lose extra weight. Instead of sleeping on his back, the patient can sleep on his sides to keep his throat open. Stop smoking or prevent second-hand smoke.


Mouthpiece

A mouthpiece may help some people who have mild sleep apnea. This is also recommended by doctors to people who snores loudly but do not have sleep apnea. Dental practitioners can make mouthpiece which will adjust the airways between the lower jaw and the tongue that will keep them open while his sleep.


Continuous Positive Airway Pressure

CPAP is the most common treatment for moderate to severe sleep apnea. The machine uses a mask that fits over the mouth and nose, or just over the nose. It gently blows air into the throat that keeps it open. The air that is pressurized can be adjusted enough to stop the airways from getting blocked during sleep.

With the three types of treatment mentioned, snoring can be stopped but it doesn't mean that the patient no longer have sleep apnea. With improper use of CPAP or if the patient will stop using the machine, sleep apnea will get back.

Also, there are reported side effects in using CPAP, like stuffy nose, sore eyes, headaches and irritation of the skin.


Surgery

This type of treatment could be the most effective way to stop sleep apnea, but also the most expensive and risky as the patient will undergo a major operation.

Surgery is done to widen the airways which usually involves shrinking or stiffening excess tissue in the mouth and throat which can be done in the doctor's clinic or a hospital. Stiffening excess tissue will be done a making a small cut in the tissue and inserting a small piece of stiff plastic.

Surgery can also be done to remove excess tissue or tonsils (if this causes the blocking of airways) which can only be done in the hospital.

For some children with larger than normal tonsils, doctors may suggest to wait for some time to see whether these tissues will shrink on their own as they grow, as this is common to small children and babies.