Common Treatments For Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea compromises an individual’s breathing while they are asleep. It will make their breathing stop periodically before starting back up again. Sleep apnea is caused by a complete or partial airway obstruction, and when the muscles in the throat relax, the airway can contract. An obstructed airway may be the result of issues such as allergies, the common cold, or a deviated septum.

Although the patient’s breathing stops periodically and deprives them of oxygen, it does not normally wake them up. However, the lack of oxygen reduces the quality of their sleep. This will often result in individuals with sleep apnea feeling exhausted and fatigued during the day even if they slept for a full 8 or 9 hours.

Obstructive sleep apnea treatment is essential for patients to avoid continuously compromised sleep. There is a CPAP for mild sleep apnea, along with a mandibular advancement device. Those who travel can elect to try a travel CPAP machine if they so desire. Some patients are forced into having another dental appliance for sleep apnea. Get the full details on how to treat this condition now.

CPAP Machine

Most patients who are suffering from sleep apnea will have their doctor recommend the use of a CPAP machine. CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure. This machine uses air pressure to keep the patient’s airways open throughout the night. It does this because the air pressure from the machine is slightly higher than the pressure surrounding it. This is what forces the throat and nasal passages to stay open. The air flox remains unobstructed this way. The CPAP machines work with a mask the patients will put on their face, This is what delivers the air to them.

Get the details on more airway devices for sleep apnea next.

Other Airway Pressure Devices

If CPAP machines cause a patient pain they cannot reduce, other airway pressure machines may be used instead. The two major alternatives are Auto-CPAP machines and BPAP (bilevel positive airway pressure) machines. An Auto-CPAP machine automatically adjusts air pressure when it can tell the patient’s airway is obstructed.

A BPAP machine, like the CPAP machine, uses a mask to deliver air. However, it can use multiple levels of pressure. For instance, a BPAP machine can increase the air pressure when an individual inhales and reduce it when they exhale. This makes it less tiring for patients who have issues exhaling with a CPAP machine.

Find out what oral devices work on seep apnea next.