Learn How To Reduce The Effect Of Sleep Apnea Using 3 Doctor's
This article would not be able to issue a cure for sleepapnea but it can highlight some solutions you can go to toget rid of it!The Greek word "apnea" literally means "without breath." So,in a nutshell means sleeping without breathing.People with untreated stop breathing repeatedlyduring their sleep,sometimes hundreds of times during the night and often for aminute or longer. Untreated, can cause high blood pressure andother cardiovascular disease, memory problems, weight gain,impotency, and headaches. Moreover, untreated sleep apneamay be responsible for job impairment and motor vehiclecrashes. There are three solutions used effectively to reduce teheffects of sleep apnea. 1.

Physical or Mechanical TherapyNasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the mostcommon effective treatment for sleep apnea. In thisprocedure, the patient wears a mask over the nose duringsleep, and pressure from an air blower forces air throughthe nasal passages. The air pressure is adjusted so that itis just enough to prevent the throat from collapsing duringsleep. The pressure is constant and continuous. Nasal CPAPprevents airway closure while in use, but apnea episodesreturn when CPAP is stopped or it is used improperly.

2. SurgerySome patients with may need surgery. Althoughseveral surgical procedures are used to increase the size ofthe airway, none of them is completely successful orwithoutrisks. More than one procedure may need to be tried beforethe patient realizes any benefits. Some of the more common procedures include removal ofadenoids and tonsils (especially in children), nasal polypsor other growths, or other tissue in the airway andcorrection of structural deformities.

Younger patients seemto benefit from

these surgical procedures more than olderpatients. Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is a procedure used toremove excess tissue at the back of the throat (tonsils,uvula, and part of the soft palate). The success of thistechnique may range from 30 to 60 percent. The long-termside effects and benefits are not known, and it is difficultto predict which patients will do well with this procedure.Somnoplasty is a procedure that uses radiowaves to reducethe size of some airway structures such as the uvula and theback of the tongue. This technique is being investigated asa treatment for apnea.

3. Non-specific TherapyBehavioral changes are an important part of the treatmentprogram, and in mild cases behavioral therapy may be allthat is needed. Overweight persons can benefit from losingweight. Even a 10 percent weight loss can reduce the numberof apneic events for most patients. Individuals with apneashould avoid the use of alcohol and sleeping pills, whichmake the airway more likely to collapse during sleep andprolong the apneic periods.

In some patients with mild sleepapnea, breathing pauses occur only when they sleep on theirbacks. In such cases, using pillows and other devices thathelp them sleep in a side position may be helpful. These three solutions are information on what can be done toreduce effect, to better your knowledge in thisarea.. To really cure your sleep apnea, you would stillneedto consult a doctor..