Sleep Apnea Treatments

Sleep apnea treatments are designed to help people suffering from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder often caused by obstruction or closing of the soft tissue in the back part of the mouth and upper area of the throat. Sleep apnea is as common as adult Diabetes. There are many different therapies to treat obstructive sleep apnea from the invasive to the non-invasive to a new procedure called the Pillar Procedure which is mildly invasive. In most cases, patients who are overweight or smoking and suffering from sleep apnea are advised to stop smoking and lose weight in order to facilitate their treatment.

CPAP Treatments

CPAP is one of the more common methods recommended for patients suffering from moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea. CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure. The device uses a mask that fits over the face either the nose or nose and mouth and applies continues air pressure that will keep the tissue pushed open. While CPAP does not cure sleep apnea, it greatly reduces if not eliminates the episodes.

Some patients report difficulty with the types of masks and may go through several to find one that fits comfortably and allows for sleep. It takes practice to adjust the straps in order to find a fit that is both secure (no leaks) and comfortable (not too much pressure on the face). A chin strap may be required for those who wear only a nasal mask to train the mouth to stay closed during sleep. Many CPAP machines also feature a humidifier function to prevent drying out and damage to the nasal and throat passages.

CPAP machines are not 100% successful and may require some adjustment over time. Significant changes to lifestyle and weight may also require a modification of the pressure on the CPAP machine.

Other Machine Treatments

Like the CPAP, the BiPAP is a machine that applies air pressure while the patient is sleeping. The BiPAP, which stands for bi-level positive airway pressure, adjusts the amount of pressure during different phases of breathing. When a person inhales, the pressure increases and when a person exhales, the pressure decreases. This alleviates the discomfort some patients experience with CPAP when the pressure makes exhaling more difficult.

Oral mandibular appliance or mouth devices are another option for patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea. Snoring mouth pieces are not as effective as CPAP or BiPAP machines when treating severe cases of obstructive apnea, but they can be a more comfortable way of coping with the sleep disorder.

Using a VitalSleep Stop Snoring Mouthpiece Device may be an effective method to treat your snoring. Learn more about how to stop snoring at http://www.vitalsleep.com.