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Sleep Apnea in America
We have a treatment plan that will give you a more restful night’s sleep.
Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which breathing becomes shallow or even stops while you’re asleep. Sleep apnea affects over 18 million Americans, with obstructive sleep apnea being the most common form. This sleep disorder is more common in adults ages 40 and over, those with a family history of snoring and postmenopausal women. While those with sleep apnea may snore rather loudly, snoring isn’t necessarily indicative of sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea can negatively impact physical health, as well. Those with sleep apnea are prone to hypertension, mood disorders and heart disease, not to mention severe daytime fatigue. However, there are several treatment methods for alleviating symptoms and giving you the good night sleep you deserve.
Mild Sleep Apnea
For those with more minor cases of apnea, there are some lifestyle changes that you can incorporate in your life to make your condition easier:
- To keep your throat open while sleeping, sleep on your side rather than your back. If you’re having trouble staying on your side during the night, there are special pillows designed to keep you from rolling over on your back.
- Avoid alcohol and medications that will make you sleepy, as they make it more difficult for your throat to remain open while sleeping.
- If you’re overweight, even a little weight loss has been known to improve sleep apnea symptoms.
- Talk to your ENT about whether nasal spray or allergic medications could help make sleeping easier.
- If you’re a smoker, we recommend quitting. There are several programs out there to help make quitting easier. Talk to us if you need help!
These lifestyle changes combined with specialized mouthpieces can be successful in treating mild sleep apnea. If an oral appliance could potentially reduce your symptoms, we will recommend a dentist or orthodontist who can custom design this device to fit your mouth.
Moderate to Severe Apnea
There are some cases of sleep apnea that still won’t improve with any of the above treatments. That’s when we will recommend the use of a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine. This small device goes over the face and pumps out pressurized air to keep airways open while you are sleep.
In more severe cases, surgery may be necessary for opening up the passageways. Sleep apnea surgeries include tonsillectomies, adenoidectomies and deviated septum repair.
If you’re desperately seeking treatment for your sleep apnea or you think your severe snoring might be sleep apnea-related, then call our office to schedule an appointment with an ENT specialist.
