Sleep apnea treatment alternatives for mild cases of sleep apnea include self-help and behavioral adjustments. They include losing weight, eliminating alcohol, quitting smoking, stopping taking sleeping pills, sleeping on your side, and maintaining regular sleep hours.
For severe cases of sleep apnea, these self-help treatments are not adequate. Several other sleep apnea treatments are available. These include:
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP):
The most widely recommended sleep apnea treatment is a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine (CPAP). A CPAP machine provides airway pressure to a sleeper with sleep apnea. The sleeper wears a mask-breathing device when they are sleeping. It supplies pressurized air, which the sleeper breathes in, stopping the airway from collapsing and keeping the sleeper from apnea episodes and snoring. The CPAP machine provides constant air pressure regardless of whether the sleeper is inhaling or breathing out.
A CPAP machine is an effective sleep apnea treatment, but many people have found the breathing mask to be uncomfortable. Thanks to recent advancements, CPAP masks have become much more comfortable. Newer CPAP masks come in a variety of styles, allowing sleepers to find the mask that works best for them.
Advancements in CPAP sleep apnea treatment also involve adjustable air pressure. Bi-level PAP allows the sleeper to switch from high to low air pressure during exhalation. Auto PAP automatically adjusts air pressure via an internal regulator at fluctuating instead of fixed levels.
Oral Appliances:
Oral appliances, like a sports mouth guard or orthodontic retainer, which fit in a sleeper's mouth, are an effective treatment for people with mild to moderate sleep apnea. These oral appliances keep the sleeper's throat and airway unobstructed. Many people find the oral appliances more simple to use than a CPAP machine, but less effective. Other oral appliances fit around the head and chin to adjust the lower jaw of the sleeper, bringing it forward and relieving snoring and apnea.
Two oral appliances that are often used to bring the jaw forward during sleep are the Tongue Retaining Device and the Mandibular Repositioning Device. These appliances are available from a dentist who specializes in sleep apnea treatment. Some sleep apnea sufferers state that the oral device is uncomfortable and experience jaw problems, nausea, saliva build-up, soreness, and tooth tenderness.
Surgery:
Certain surgeries can remove tissues, tonsils, or adenoids, keeping the airway from being able to close and are an alternative sleep apnea treatment. Surgery may provide permanent relief, but there are risks of infection and complications. Depending on the type of sleep apnea, the surgery options for sleep apnea treatment include:
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) - A surgeon removes the tonsils, adenoids, tissue from the back of the mouth, and from the top of the throat.
Maxillomandibular Advancement - A surgeon moves the upper and lower jaw forward, enlarging the space behind the soft palate and tongue.
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