HOW TO TREAT sleep apnea? Specific treatment of sleep apnea in view >> << patient on the basis of medical history, physical examination
. , and the results of polysomnography. Medications are generally not effective for the treatment of sleep apnea
Oxygen administration may safely benefit certain patients,
, but does not eliminate sleep apnea or
prevent daytime sleepiness. Thus, the role of oxygen in the
treatment of sleep apnea is controversial, and it's
difficult to predict which patients will respond well. This
It is important that the effectiveness of selected treatment >> << check it, usually by polysomnography.
, Behavioral therapy Behavioral changes are an important part of treatment programs >> << and in mild cases behavioral therapy may be all that is necessary
. A person should avoid the use of
alcohol, tobacco, and sleeping pills that make >> << airway more likely to collapse during sleep and prolong the periods of apnea >>. Overweight << people can benefit from weight reduction. Even a 10 percent weight loss can reduce the number of apnea events
for most patients. Some patients with mild >> << sleep apnea, breathing pauses occur only when they sleep on their backs
, . In such cases, using pillows and other devices
to help them sleep in the side position is often helpful. Physical or mechanical therapy, nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the most common
effective treatment for sleep apnea. In this procedure,
, the patient wears a mask on the nose during sleep >> << and the pressure of the air blower forces through
nasal passages. The air pressure is adjusted so that the
enough to prevent the throat from damage while you sleep >>. << Pressure is constant and continuous. Nasal CPAP
, prevents airway closure while in use, but apnea episodes
, return when CPAP is stopped or used improperly. Variations of the CPAP device attempt to minimize side effects
, which sometimes arise, such as nasal irritation and drying
irritated skin, bloating, mask leaks
eye pain, headaches. Some versions of CPAP vary the pressure
coincide with the breath of man picture >> << and others start with low pressure, slowly increasing it
to allow a person to fall asleep in front of >> << ; full prescribed pressure. Dental appliances that move the lower jaw and tongue
been helpful for some patients with mild sleep apnea,
, or who snore but do not have apnea. Possible side effects include damage to the
teeth, soft tissues and jaws
joint. Your dentist or orthodontist is often the one in line
patient with such a device. Surgery Some patients with sleep apnea may need surgery. Although
several surgical procedures are used to increase the size
airways, none of them quite successfully and safely.
More than one procedure may have to be tried
patient realizes any benefits. Some of the most common procedures include removal of adenoids
and tonsils (especially in children), nasal polyps
and other growths, or other tissue in the airway and correction
structural deformations. Younger patients seem
benefit from these surgical procedures more than older patients.
, Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is a procedure used to remove excess >> << tissue in the back of the throat (tonsils, uvula and part of the
soft palate). The success of this technique >> << can vary from 30 to 50 percent. Long-term
side effects and benefits are not known, and it is hard >> << to predict which patients will do well with this procedure. With the help of laser uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) is done to eliminate snoring
but was not shown to be effective in treating sleep apnea
. This procedure involves using a laser device to eliminate tissue
back of the throat. Like UPPP,
LAUP may decrease or eliminate snoring but not sleep apnea
itself. Elimination of snoring, the primary symptom
sleep apnea, without influencing the condition may carry the risk of delays
diagnosis and possible treatment of sleep apnea
patients who opt for LAUP. To determine the possible underlying
sleep apnea, sleep studies are usually required before
LAUP is performed. Tracheostomy is used in patients with severe life-threatening

sleep apnea. In this procedure, a small hole
made into the windpipe and a tube is inserted into the hole >>. << This tube stays closed during waking hours, and
person breathes and speaks normally. It is open to sleep >> << so that air flows directly into the lungs, bypassing any
upper airway obstruction. Although this procedure
very effective, it is an extreme measure, which is bad
tolerated and rarely used. Other procedures. Patients in whom sleep apnea is associated with
deformation of the lower jaw may benefit from surgical reconstruction >>. << Finally, surgical intervention for the treatment of obesity
sometimes recommended for sleep apnea patients who are obese >> <<. If you have any questions or comments on senior health
nutrition, fitness, etc., go to >> << for educational / reference use only. University of Texas. << >>