Showing posts with label CPAP. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CPAP. Show all posts

Monday, August 22, 2011

Effective ways for sleep apnea treatment


Because sleep apnea can be very stressful and serious disorder its treatment is important. There are two goals in the treatment of sleep apnea. The first is to reduce symptoms and the second is to stabilize breathing patterns. Treatment depends on the severity of the disease. Here some of option for sleep apnea treatment you can try.

Lifestyle changes. It's called behavioral therapy too. The goals of changing lifestyle are to change habits, activities, and way of life. Such as, reducing weight can considerably lessen sleep apnea as overweight can significantly cause the narrowing of the airway. It's also necessary to keep away from alcohol, sedatives, and other medicines that can cause throat muscles relax and may cause sleepiness. Keeping away from tobacco is important too. 

In addition, It's helpful for people with sleep apnea to sleep on the back rather than on the side. Sleeping on the back can relax the tongue and palate more and thus block the air ways. For keeping the nasal passages open, it's recommended using saline nasal sprays. 

Surgeries. The goal of surgical operation is to maintain the air way wide and open, thus let the free air flowing. Surgical operation is usually performed on those with serious sleep apnea, But what kind of surgery to undergo is depend on its cause. There are surgeries that remove excess tissues from the throat and soft palate that block the airway. Others, meanwhile, shrink tissues in the mouth and throat.

Device. Treatment for sleep apnea with diverse severities use breathing and oral devices. For instances, continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) and mouthpiece. CPAP is a mask like device connected to a machine that is suggested for people with moderate and severe apnea. CPAP is worn over the nose while sleeping and brings pressurized air to avoid the airway from narrowing. 

Successful treatment of sleep apnea is probably determined by the commitment of the person as the treatments mentioned above can be quite difficult to maintain. For example, changing lifestyle. Probably it will be difficult for some people to reduce weight or stay away from alcohol. In the end, it is still about healthy living. It is about taking steps toward eliminating the dangers of sleep apnea.

Friday, July 29, 2011

CPAP as sleep apnea treatment

Sleep apnea literally means "sleep without breath" and can result from respiratory muscle weakness (known as central sleep apnea) or a blockage of the trachea, or airway (known as obstructive sleep apnea.) Obstructive sleep apnea is much more common than central sleep apnea and can be caused by a variety of factors including obesity, congestion in the throat, tonsillitis or mononucleosis.

First, you will be asked for your medical history as well as those of your family members. This is because it seems to run in families, thus, this information is valuable towards making a final diagnosis and determination of the appropriate treatment. Toronto doctors will ask exhaustive questions so it is better to come prepared with basic family medical histories.

There are many people that suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea. This can make not only their life hard, but it can infringe on the lives of those around the sufferer. Sleep apnea treatments come in many ways. They can be done through self help. The simple act of not taking the sedatives or not drinking the alcohol can, in fact give you a better nights rest. Any substance that may lead to overly relaxed muscles, especially of the neck, jaw and tongue, can cause one to suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. 

Many devices have had no medical studies conducted at all and you should stay away from these or you may be taking a chance as to whether they will be a successful form of treatment for you or not. Remember, client feedback and comments are NOT accepted as proven medical test/study results so be sure to ask for medical test evidence rather than just believing user comments and statements. 

Lifestyle and behavioral changes are a must in the treatment of sleep apnea. Mild cases of the disorder respond well to such changes as decreases in alcohol consumption, smoking and sleeping medications. Losing weight is a treatment option recommended for obese individuals. Episodes can also be reduced by using special devices that keep individuals on their side during sleep.

Once these symptoms have been detected, it is important to immediately have children undergo a polysomnography or a sleep test. The sleep test is the most effective tool used to properly determine and diagnose any sleeping disorder that the child might have. 

One of the most simple sleep apnea treatment is to used CPAP is the use of positional therapy as a non-invasive treatment. This is simply the act of changing the sleeping position of the sufferer to provide relief. There are a number of products that can help, from foam wedges, to special pillows and shirts that adjust the position that the sufferer can sleep in.

The medically necessary and accepted treatment for clinically significant OSA is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). CPAP is the only treatment for OSA in adults. Unless the patient is intolerant of CPAP which means the patient went through at least a three-month CPAP trial supervised by a sleep medicine specialist.

Sleep specialists use CPAP - and CPAP mask in Toronto or elsewhere - to provide constant air pressure. This keeps the collapse-dilation mechanism of the different sets of throat muscles working. In simpler terms, this sleep apnea treatment procedure prevents your throat muscles from blocking the airway.

According to statistics, there are more than 1.4 million Canadians who suffer from sleep apnea. If you are one of them, you will experience physically debilitating symptoms like excessive daytime sleepiness that can result in driving and work accidents, intermittent headaches morning till night, painful heartburn, leg swelling, chest pains when asleep, and most disturbing to your bed mate.

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by breathing difficulty during sleep. This happens when the brain mixes up the signals to the muscles that facilitate breathing or when the airway at the back of your throat gets blocked. Symptoms of sleep apnea include snoring, feeling tired and sleepy during the day, and waking up with a headache.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Sleep apnea treatment options

If you suffer from sleep apnea, you may notice that you are often tired and groggy throughout the day. Sleep apnea affects typical sleep patterns, as it is a sleep disorder that occurs when normal breathing stops during sleep and causes you to wake up repeatedly during the night. Many people with sleep apnea are not aware that they are constantly awoken, yet they experience the tiring consequences during waking hours.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a common type of the disorder that involves the muscles relaxing during sleep, blocking the airways and disrupting the flow of oxygen to the lungs. Treatment options range from sleeping devices that help keep the airways clear to simple lifestyle changes and home remedies.

A common and preferred method for treating sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), which involves wearing a mask that delivers air pressure through a machine to help keep airway passages open. The CPAP device should be worn every time you go to sleep, even if you are just lying down for a short nap. Although a CPAP device cannot cure obstructive sleep apnea, and it may take some time to get used to wearing, it can very effective in treating sleeping problems caused by sleep apnea.

For mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, a dental device can also help clear the airways and allow for proper breathing while you sleep. Dental devices include a tongue retaining device, which can help treat sleep apnea if your tongue obstructs air from getting through properly. The tongue is held in place with a splint or suction bulb, allowing for air to pass through. Another type of dental device is a mandibular advancement device (MAD), which looks like a mouth guard and keeps the lower jaw in a forward position in order to keep the tongue from blocking airways. Speak with your dentist about dental devices if you suffer from sleep apnea.

There are many cases in which certain lifestyle changes and home remedies can be effective methods of treating sleep apnea. Being overweight, for example, can lead to additional fat around the neck that narrows the airways, making it harder air to get through when you sleep. Losing weight can help you widen the airways and sleep better at night. Drinking alcohol or taking certain medications can relax muscles even more, so reducing your consumption of these substances can also be effective in treating sleep apnea. You can also try sleeping on your side or stomach when you sleep, instead of your back, and keep your nasal passages clear with saline nasal spray before bed.

Because surgery can often be ineffective or even worsen the condition, it is usually only recommended in severe cases of sleep apnea in which no other treatment has worked. Types of surgery that treat sleep apnea include removing the uvula or adjusting the position of the jaw.