Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment

Lifestyle changes like controlling or losing weight, quitting smoking and alcohol are often recommended by specialists in milder cases of obstructive sleep apnea.



This generally helps to certain extent, but if these don’t help to improve the symptoms then other mode of treatment may be started. In some cases using a device to keep the airway open may help but in others a surgical procedure may be necessary to remove the tissue from mouth, throat or nose.

Treatment for obstructive sleep apnea

• Following are the therapies generally used to treat obstructive sleep apnea.
  Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) – CPAP is a machine that has greater air pressure than the surrounding air.
  
  
  
  It is a mask that you are suppose to wear while sleeping and the greater pressure in CPAP helps to keep the airway passage open preventing snoring and apnea. Although some people might find this device uncomfortable to sleep with, some practice to adjust with the mask would help the situation. A humidifier along with the CPAP mask would help in some cases.
  
  
  
  The pressure settings in the CPAP mask will need to be adjusted according to the weight changes. If you still experience snoring or other symptoms despite of wearing the mask, then consult your specialist to know the exact problem.
• Oral appliances – Your throat could be kept open by bringing your jaw forward (to relieve snoring) or changing the position of your tongue with the help of oral appliances. Although CPAP is more effective, oral appliances are user friendly and can help in milder cases of sleep apnea.
  
  
  
  
• Surgery and other procedures – In some severe to moderate cases of apnea surgical procedure may be necessary to remove the tissue from mouth, throat or nose that keeps vibrating and causes you to snore. The following options are available and can be selected according to the severity of the disorder.

1. Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) – A tissure is removed from top of the throat or rear of the mouth along with the tonsils and adenoids. This procedure may help to prevent the throat structures to vibrate and reduce snoring.
   
   
   
   In some cases however this procedure may be unsuccessful as tissues down the throat may still block the air passage.
2. Maxillomandibular advancement – This procedure helps to bring the upper and the lower part of your jaw forward thereby increasing the space behind the soft palate and the tongue. This procedure may decrease the obstruction and the jaw may be generally wired for several weeks.
   
   
   
   
3. Tracheostomy – This is the only option for life threatening sleep apnea where all the other methods of treatment have failed. A stoma or opening is made in the neck and a plastic or metal tube is inserted which helps in breathing while you are sleeping.
4. Implants – To place tiny polyester rods on the soft palate.

• Other procedures would include nasal surgery, laser assisted uvuloplatoplasty or radiofrequency ablation.