Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the most common form of sleep apnea, in which an obstruction within the upper airways causes a person to repeatedly stop breathing during sleep. The obstruction may be any number of things, the most common being enlarged tonsils and adenoids, inflammations, excess fat tissues or the tongue which can sometimes flop backwards and serve as a plug over the airways. In rarer cases, tumours, growths, bone structures and naturally narrow airways are to blame.

In some cases, treatment of obstructive sleep apnea may come in the form of surgery where the tonsils, adenoids or other obstructive tissues may be removed or reduced by cutting or laser therapy. Sometimes this treatment can prove effective, whilst sometimes the symptoms may reappear or be worsened.

Other than surgery, the remaining treatments of obstructive sleep apnea generally fall into 3 other categories:

Machines: To help facilitate breathing, machines are available which a person hooks themselves up to during sleep. Continuous Persistent Air Pressure (CPAP) is regarded as one of the best forms of treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. A mask is worn which keeps the airways open with adequate air pressure, allowing a person to breath without obstruction. The downside to this treatment is many find wearing the mask uncomfortable or simply too difficult to get used to, so give up on using CPAP as a form of treatment.

Devices: Some non-electrical devices are also used to treat some people with Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Jaw realignment devices are sometimes used which are fixed or fitted onto the jaw, forcing the mandible into a forwards position. This opens up the airways more. Other devices hold the tongue in place preventing it from flopping backwards and becoming an obstruction. Whilst these devices can prove effective they are often uncomfortable to use, and long term usage can result in damaging side effects such as permanent realignment of the jaw, joint pain and damage to teeth and gums.

Lifestyle / Behavioural: Losing weight can have a greater impact upon sleep apnea symptoms than you may think. Fat tissues not accumulate externally, but also internally – even within the airways. More fat within the airways means narrower airways so by losing weight, a person can breath easier. Sleeping on your side instead of your back can also have a huge impact upon sleep apnea, as the airways and tongue don't tend to implode so much, so stoppages in breathing won't be so frequent. Stopping smoking can reduce inflammation within the airways, which also helps breathing. By not taking sleeping pills or drinking alcohol before sleep, you can reduce sleep apnea symptoms. Sleeping pills and alcohol are relaxants, and if the airways and tongue become to relaxed, they cause obstruction, so the very substances you think are helping you to sleep may in fact be part of the problem rather than the solution.