Sleep Apnea Treatment and Tips

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), Central Sleep Apnea (CSA), and Mixed Sleep Apnea - the three types of sleep apneas.
Though OSA and CSA have similar symptoms, the treatment for the two different types of sleep apnea does somewhat vary.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea is the more common type and a physical issue. OSA involves obstruction of the individual's airway. An airway obstruction occurs when an individual is sleeping. This obstruction can be caused when a tissue in the upper throat collapse and causes air to become blocked and breath is temporarily stopped. Eventually lack of oxygen causes the lungs to suck in air.
Since Central Sleep Apnea is a neurological issue unlike Obstructive Sleep Apnea which is a physical issue. This type of sleep apnea involves the region of the brain and nerves that regulate breathing do not function properly which causes breathing to be impaired. There are certain factors that can put individuals at risk for developing central sleep apnea. These factors include: being male; being diagnosed with congestive heart failure or atrial fibrillation; stroke or brain tumor; living at a high altitude; and taking certain medications that affect breathing.
As you can assume from the name, Mixed Sleep issue is a combination of both Obstructive Sleep issue and Central Sleep disorder. And like the name, the treatment for Mixed Sleep disorder may be a combination of treatments for both Obstructive Sleep disease and Central Sleep disorder.
While the same type of testing is used to diagnosis all three types of sleep disorder. The treatments somewhat vary because Obstructive Sleep issue is a physical disorder while Central Sleep disorder is a neurological disorder.
For a mild case of any of the three types of sleep disease, lifestyle changes such as losing weight or stop smoking may help. However, if the individual's sleep disorder is severe there are a number of treatments available.
Treatment for Obstructive Sleep disease may involve a surgical procedure to remove excess tissue that is causing the airway blockage.
o The surgical procedure to remove excess tissue is called an Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP). With this procedure tissue from the top of the throat and the rear of the mouth is removed, commonly tonsils and adenoids are also removed.
o A jaw correction procedure is also a form of treatment for OSA. This procedure is called an maxillomandibular advancement and is performed by a oral surgeon and an orthodontist. With this procedure, the upper and lower parts of the jaw are moved forward from the facial bones.
o Implants are another procedure offered individuals diagnosed with OSA. This procedure is referred to as the Pillar procedure and is minimally invasive. Three small polyester rods are inserted into the palate. Once the inserts harden they support the tissue of the palate and reduces the upper airway collapse. This treatment works best for individuals that have a mild or moderate case of OSA.
o For severe, life-threatening sleep disorder and all other treatments have failed, a tracheostomy (surgical opening in the neck) is performed. A metal or plastic tube is inserted into the opening in the neck. This opening is covered during an individual's waking hours and uncovered during the sleeping hours to allow air to bypass the blocked air passage.
Some therapies are successful for individuals with sleep disorder, such as oral devices and positive airway pressure. These therapies are used for all types of sleep disorder.
Oral devices or mouthpieces are designed and fitted by a dentist specializing in dental sleep medicine appliances. These oral devices can be designed to relieve air passage blockage by bringing the jaw forward or holding the tongue in a different position.
The other option is sleeping with a device over the nose that applies positive airway pressure. This treatment works best for moderate or severe sleep disorder. These devices are referred to as a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device or a bilevel positive airway pressure (bilevel PAP) device .
The CPAP device involves the individual wearing a mask over the nose while sleeping. The mask is attached by a hose to a device that houses an air pump which supplies constant pressured air. This pressured air keeps the upper airway open and prevents airway closure.
The bilevel PAP device involves the individual wearing a mask over the nose while sleeping and the mask is attached by a hose to a pump that provides air; however, unlike the CPAP machine which supplies constant pressured air, the bilevel PAP has a higher pressure when an individual inhales and a lower pressure when the individual exhales.

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Home Treatment of Sleep Apnea

Approximately one in ten Americans has sleep apnea. These people do not know what a sound sleep is. There is more than just snoring associated with a sleep disorder sufferer. The throat relaxes and even closes during sleep causing the person to stop breathing for short periods. The snoring sound you hear is when the sleeper gasps for air and tries to resume breathing. Many people look for a home treatment of this potentially serious disorder.

To determine if you actually have sleep apnea, you need to be tested at a sleep test center by a trained professional. This disorder generally affects middle-aged men who are overweight. There are several ways to try to treat sleep apnea with home treatments.

If you have a serious case of sleep apnea consisting of more than five episodes per night then you should consult a doctor. If you have five or less episodes or less then you can try home treatments for the disorder.

Holistic practitioners have used a flower remedy called Vervain as a home treatment of sleep apnea. Vervain is thought to be a calming essence that has been able to help people with their sleeping problems.
Other natural remedies include aromatherapy, herbal remedies, homeopathy, yoga and other relaxation techniques. Combining natural remedies with lifestyle improvements could very well improve your nights sleep.

Lifestyle improvements include losing some weight. Many of this disorders' sufferers are overweight. Losing weight can reduce the number of times you stop breathing per hour. The experts agree that weight loss must be considered if trying to manage the problem. Another home treatment of sleep apnea is to limit the use of alcohol and medicine. An excessive amount of alcohol can make the symptoms even worse. Certain medications such as sleeping pills and sedatives can also make the symptoms worse.

Getting plenty of sleep is another home treatment of sleep apnea. Sufferers of this sleep disorder experience more episodes if they are not getting enough sleep. Try sleeping on your side to eliminate mild symptoms. To prevent you from sleeping on your back try sewing a pocket on the back of your pajamas and place a tennis ball in it. That way you will not be able to sleep on your back.

Other homeopathic methods of home treatment of sleep apnea consist of changing ones diet. They suggest that extroverted and charismatic people should consume Lachesis. They also believe that people who are more temperate should consume homeopathic opium. Homeopaths feel that all sufferers of the disorder should eliminate sugar and other allergic foods.

The breathing techniques taught in yoga are another form of a home treatment of sleep apnea. These techniques forcibly clear out air passages. By learning these techniques and frequently practicing them, you may experience some relief in your obstructive apnea symptoms.

If you happen to wake up during an episode, do not panic as that can worsen the problem. Try to forcibly breathe out and then breathe in slowly. If home treatment of sleep apnea does not solve the problem then consult a physician.


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Sleep Apnea Solution

What about sleep apnea solution?... This is a problem that occurs whilst you sleep, it causes pauses whilst you are breathing and missed breaths. There are three forms this condition, 'obstructive' sleep apnea effects the most people, over 18 million Americans, and involves the full or partial collapse of the airway. This can be incredibly dangerous and even life threatening, causing strokes, cardiovascular disease of hypertension. There are solutions which vary from case to case. One solution is as simple as lifestyle changes, whilst a more drastic solution can be surgery.

Non drastic approaches include the use of a humidifier whilst in bed, clearing the nasal passage before sleep and not sleeping on your back, can all help resolve sleep apnea. Other such solutions include herbs, acupuncture and even hypnosis. Healthier lifestyle choices such as cutting down on bad foods, curbing your consumption of alcohol and quitting smoking are all viable solutions.
However such sleep apnea solutions may not be enough for certain individuals. There are certain devices that can be used, such as mouth guards designed to keep the airway open at night. There is a device named a 'Mandibular Advancement Device' which holds the lower jaw in a forwards position. Whilst a device stops the tongue from obstructing the airway. The mandibular advancement device can be adjusted by a dentist as required for each patient.

Another solution is to use pressurized air whilst asleep. This works by pushing air down the airway at night and keeping the airway open, you have to wear a mask whilst you sleep however. Continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) is a common solution and includes the use of a humidifier, air heater and changing inhalation and exhalation air pressures.
Sleep apnea is caused by the blockage of the airway whilst asleep, as such the main solution to solve the problem is to stop obstructions. One way to do this is through tissue reduction. This reduction is done using Radio frequency Tissue Reduction, also called Somnoplasty, and is the process in which excess tissue is reduced to keep the airway clear, such as certain parts of the tongue, the soft palate and the throat. The tongue is reduced to open up space for the airway and also lower the risks of it blocking the airway whilst asleep.

A surgical sleep apnea solution is reserved as the last option. The majority of surgical procedures are intended to make the airway wider. Once such procedure is Uvulopalatoplasty, this is the removal of the uvula, or simply making it smaller. If the problem is mainly due to nasal blockage, you may have surgery to align the septum. Other beneficial treatments include Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy.
The most obtrusive option you can go for is Maxillomandibular advancement. This is when the upper and lower jaw are disconnected and placed further forward with plates and pins.
This goes to show how dangerous sleep apnea can be, that such a drastic surgery would be performed. This is a serious problem and may need to be treated for your entire life. Trying to find a sleep apnea solution is an ongoing thing, every year steps are made in the right direction and as such treatments are ever improving.

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Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea can be caused by physical blockage of the airway, which is obstructive sleep apnea, or it can be caused by the brain's inability to properly control normal breathing, which is known as central sleep apnea. Both obstructive and central sleep apneas can occur for many different reasons, but when the causes for both obstructive and central sleep disease are experienced at the same time in a patient, it is called complex (mixed) sleep disease.
Complex sleep disease is often a wide range of problems, often stemming from a previous, untreated apnea condition. An example would be a patient who suffers from obstructive sleep disease developing chronic heart failure, leading to lower blood flow to the brain, making the brain less able to regulate breathing while asleep. In this case, the patient would then be suffering from both the obstructive sleep apneas in addition to the central sleep apnea caused by the brain's inability to control the patient's breathing in a normal manner. The patient would then be suffering from complex sleep apnea, which is much more disruptive to the patient's sleep and overall health than one type of apnea alone.

Complex sleep issue's symptoms are often more severe versions of the symptoms seen in obstructive or central sleep issue, even in mild cases, because of the compounded nature of the apneas experienced. For example, when the patient experiences an apnea due to physical obstruction of the airway, a central sleep issue may also be triggered, and for a moment the patient may not even attempt to breathe through the obstruction. The patient would then either be awakened by the lack of breathing and have his/her sleep pattern disrupted, or the patient would experience a hyperpnea (rapid, shallow breathing) to compensate for the lack of oxygen. This cycle would continue throughout the patient's sleep, leaving the body taxed when it should have been recuperating.
Treating complex sleep apnea is a tentative and experimental field, as complex sleep apnea has only been recognized as a distinct form of apnea relatively recently. Because of this, methods of treatment are still in experimental development, as treatment of traditional sleep disorder such as CPAP and BiPAP, as well as drugs used to treat central sleep disorder, often have detrimental effects on the patient's condition, usually worsening it.
A few of the treatments of complex sleep disorder currently in the experimental phase are a PAP Gas Modulator device, which introduces small amounts of CO2 to stabilize CO2 homeostasis in the patient, as well as an ASV device, which rapidly changes the pressure of the air the patient is receiving, evening out breathing and eliminating the erratic ventilation that would otherwise occur. Though both of these methods show promising results, only ASV has been approved by the FDA in the United States, and even then, they are both considered in experimental phase by most physicians.
Complex sleep disorder is a very intricate and complicated sleep disorder. Much care must be taken with the patient to ensure that their condition isn't further complicated. Although conventional methods of treating sleep disorders are ineffective, science is making headway into treating complex sleep disorder, and new developments as well as current experimental treatments are constantly being advanced.

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