Various Sleep Apnea Treatments
As a dental professional, it is important to realize that treating sleep apnea involves multiple health care professionals as well as loved ones. One of the first steps a loved one can take in diagnosis and treatment of loved ones is recognition. Does your partner experience interrupted breathing while sleeping? Are these interruptions longer than a few seconds in duration and frequent in occurrence? Is excessively loud snoring common?
If so, then you should talk with your partner about the possibility of sleep apnea. Diabetics and overweight people tend to increase the likelihood of developing sleep apnea. Many people are sensitive when it comes to discussing their embarrassing sleeping habits. That’s why I make it a point to ask spouses whether or not these events are occurring. I then look for other oral conditions that may exacerbate breathing while sleeping. If a patient presents with an abnormally large tongue or uvula during an oral examination that I believe may impede his or her ability to sleep, then a physician referral becomes necessary for proper diagnosis and treatment.
As far as sleep apnea treatments are concerned, the physician and dental professional must work together in concert. Treatment, of course, depends on the severity of the condition. The severity of the condition is often defined as how many interrupted breathing occurrences happen within a specified time frame.
A special machine with a face mask known as a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) may sometimes be used to treat obstructive sleep apnea. However compliance and home care maintenance to avoid bacterial growth in the various lines of the machine often reduce the success of such a treatment.
Alternatively, lesser invasive appliances such as an oral device may work better for patients with less severe forms of sleep apnea. Furthermore, in some mild cases, weight loss may be issued as a form of treatment to treat sleep apnea. Decreasing the amount of fat and therefore pressure may help to open up the airway, and in more radical cases, some patients may even opt to have their uvula surgically removed in order to create a more efficient airway.
Finally, one may also help treat their sleep apnea condition by positioning themselves more upright during sleep. This, however, may affect the quality of sleep one may receive as some people find it difficult to sleep in such a position. These are only a few of the available sleep apnea cures you can ask your physician about.
Tags: airway pressure, CPAP, REM, sleep, Sleep Apnea, sleep apnea treatment, Sleep Apnea Treatments, snoring, treating sleep apneaRelated posts
Filed Under Cure For Sleep Apnea, Sleep Apnea Cures, Sleep Apnea Solutions, Sleep Apnea Treatments | Leave a Comment
Tagged With airway pressure, CPAP, REM, sleep, Sleep Apnea, sleep apnea treatment, Sleep Apnea Treatments, snoring, treating sleep apnea
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