Sleep Apnea Treatments – Learn more about them!

If you have experienced episodes of sudden awakening from sleep and gasping for breath, you might be suffering from a condition called Sleep Apnea. Sleep Apnea is a sleeping disorder caused by a complete blockage of the airway. Breathing pauses may be experienced which can last from few seconds to minutes. Most people suffering from sleep apnea are not usually aware of their condition even this person suddenly awakes at night. Usually, the person who sleeps with someone suffering from sleep apnea can tell about this sleep disturbance.

Sleep Apnea may manifest through unexplained daytime sleepiness, snoring, irritability, headaches, and anxiety during daytime. People with this problem also tend to have difficulty concentrating, and may experience mild depression. Sleep Apnea may be present for a long time without the person’s knowledge. It may be mild or it can be serious problem.

Sleep Apnea treatments depend on the severity of the problem. There are Sleep Apnea treatments for mild cases which include avoiding alcohol and sleeping pills, changing positions for regular breathing, sleeping at your sides, stopping to smoke, and even losing weight for overweight patients.

For more serious problems however, Sleep Apnea treatments include surgery for deviated nasal septum, enlarged tonsils, or lower jaws, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) a treatment where a patient wears a mask over the nose and mouth, or use of dental appliances for the air passage to be always open. Surgeries may be in the form of Somnoplasty, Nasal surgery, Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), or Mandibular maxillar advancement surgery.