Symptoms And Treatment Options For Sleep Apnea Disorder

Sleep apnea disorder occurs when your airway becomes blocked or narrowed during sleep. If you notice symptoms, seek immediate medical attention. There are many sleep apnea disorder treatment options available. However, the treatment you get depends on the severity of your condition.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

Symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea vary from patient to patient. However, you should be aware of these signs and seek help if you notice them. Untreated sleep apnea can cause serious health problems.

1. Heavy Snoring

Heavy snores, choking, or gasping while asleep is another symptom. Again, if you have a bed partner, they may be able to tell you if this is happening during the night.

2. Morning Headaches

A morning headache can signify that you don't get enough oxygen while you sleep. If you often wake up with a headache in the morning, this could be a sign that your airways are becoming blocked while you sleep.

3. Dry Mouth or Sore Throat When You Wake Up

Another common symptom of obstructive sleep apnea is a dry mouth or sore throat when you wake up. This is because you breathe through your mouth while asleep.

Sleep Apnea Disorder Treatment

There are a variety of sleep apnea disorder treatment options. These include:

1. Healthier Lifestyle

Healthier lifestyle changes may help people with mild to moderate sleep apnea. These include:

• Quit smoking because smoking cigarettes can make it harder to breathe while sleeping because it causes inflammation in the airways.
• Lose weight if overweight or obese.
• Limit alcohol consumption.

2. Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD)

Sleep apnea oral appliance therapy is also known as mandibular advancement devices (MADs) or mouthpieces. This treatment entails fitting sleep apnea oral appliances over your teeth and moving your jaw forward so that it does not collapse during sleep. This fix helps keep your airway open throughout the night without the need for medication or surgery.

3. Surgical Method

Surgery helps to remove excess tissue in the throat or nose. A tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy helps correct breathing problems at night. In extreme cases, surgery may involve the removal of part of the soft palate or uvula. Surgery is considered if other treatments aren't working well.

4. Mechanical Therapy

Sleep apnea disorder can get treated using the mechanical techniques below:

• Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). This device blows pressurized air through a mask worn over the nose while you sleep. The constant flow of air helps keep your throat open to breathe normally and get the restful sleep you need.
• BiPAP. BiPAP is similar to CPAP, but it delivers lower levels of pressurized air when you're inhaling and higher levels when you're exhaling. This type of machine is recommended for people who have both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.

Conclusion

If you experience any symptoms, you should see your health care provider first. The earlier you get treatment, the better.