How do we treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?
Sleep Apnea is a sleeping disorder that disrupts your breathing during sleep, depriving your brain of oxygen while you sleep and may cause major health problems in the long run. Here are some ways that OSA is treated:
Lifestyle Modifications
- Weight loss: Reduces fat deposits around the airway and improves breathing.
- Sleeping position: Avoiding sleeping on the back (positional therapy) may reduce airway collapse.
- Avoiding alcohol and sedatives: These relax airway muscles and worsen OSA.
- Regular exercise: Improves overall sleep quality and reduces severity.
Positive Airway Pressure Therapy
Sleep apnea can be managed with a continuous positive airway pressure device, which is a mask-like device that keeps the airways open while you sleep. These devices include:
- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP): The most common and effective treatment. A machine delivers a steady stream of air through a mask to keep the airway open during sleep.
- Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP): Provides different pressures for inhaling and exhaling, useful for those who can’t tolerate CPAP.
- Auto-adjusting PAP (APAP): Adjusts air pressure based on the patient’s breathing patterns.
Surgery
Surgery is usually only an option after other treatments have failed, and is usually suggested after a trial of at least a three-months of other treatment options. It is however, a first treatment option for people with certain jaw structure problems. Surgery options include:
- Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP): Removes excess tissue from the throat.
- Maxillomandibular advancement: Moves the jaw forward to enlarge the airway.
- Hypoglossal nerve stimulation: An implanted device stimulates tongue muscles to keep the airway open.
