If you have recently been diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea, you should know that there are a variety of different treatments based on the severity of your condition. Mild sleep apnea can be treated with simple lifestyle changes.
For example, following an exercise regimen to lose weight and thus decrease your BMI, quitting smoking to better your health in general, or changing your sleeping style by sleeping on your side or on your back.
When you have moderate to severe sleep apnea, these lifestyle changes will more than likely not suffice for adequate sleep apnea treatment.
An alternative type of treatment that is most commonly used is using a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine (CPAP). These machines deliver air pressure through a mask placed over your nose and/or mouth while you are asleep. This air pressure keeps your airway open throughout the night, preventing any obstructions from occurring. Different types of this treatment are available: the CPAP is set at one static pressure, the BiPAP is set at two pressure that alternate as you inhale and exhale, and the APAP is set at a range of pressures that adjust according to breath pressure and severity of the obstructions.
Another type of treatment is wearing an oral appliance. These appliances are designed to maintain your jaw and tongue positioning throughout the night to prevent obstructions from occurring. Although patients due find this treatment to be useful, the most effect treatment is the positive airway pressure machines.
Finally, there are surgical options to treat your sleep apnea, which consists of the partial removal of the tissue in your throat to prevent the obstructions from occurring.
