Question By: Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that needs to be treated. A board certified sleep physician can help you select a treatment plan that is right for you.
Here are some of the treatments for sleep apnea:
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CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure):- CPAP is a machine that uses a steady stream of air to gently keep your airway open throughout the night so you are able to breathe. You sleep with a mask with a hose that is attached to a machine kept at the bedside.
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Oral Appliance Therapy:- An oral appliance is a device that fits in your mouth over your teeth while you sleep. It may resemble a sports mouth guard or an orthodontic retainer.
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Surgery:- Surgical therapies are not as effective in treating sleep apnea as CPAP and oral appliances. There are a variety of surgical options you can elect to have if CPAP or oral appliance therapy does not work for you.
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Weight Management:- In some cases, weight loss can help improve or eliminate your patient's sleep apnea symptoms if they are overweight or obese.
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Positional Therapy:- Positional therapy is a behavioral strategy to treat positional sleep apnea. Some people have sleep apnea primarily when sleeping on their back. This is called the “supine” position. Their breathing returns to normal when they sleep on their side.
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