Sleep Apnea 101

Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition that also threatens life. The person who is suffering from sleep apnea can actually wake up gasping for breath and can potentially suffocate in their sleep.

Sleep Apnea Symptoms

• Terribly tired during the day.
• Wakes up from a full night sleep and feeling completely unrefreshed over a period of a week or more.
• Having headaches throughout the day
• Loud snoring
• Waking up at night gasping for air
• Having night time choking spells.

Sleep Apnea Treatments

• Combination of lifestyle changes – like losing weight, avoiding alcohol and changing positions when sleeping and avoid sleeping on your back.
• Anti-snoring devices – These devices are specific to a person who snores very loud. A device needs to be measured and fitted to the person’s mouth prior to use. This device can increase the air passageway for easy breathing.
• CPAP or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure – a new way to stop snoring. It is done with the use of a mask gently placed over the nostrils or mouth and is connected to a machine that supplies a positive flow of air. This device forces the person to breathe properly and freely.
• Stop Smoking – smoking can cause your breathing passages to swell and impairs your ability to breathe normally.
• Pillar Palatal implantation – a method for curing sleep apnea and serves to stiffen the soft palate where it meets the hard palate.
• Surgical treatment – like of all surgeries, this treatment is risky and cost-associated. There are four common types of surgeries, Nasal Surgery, Somnoplasty, Mandibular maxillar advancement surgery and Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. However, it should always be a last resort.

If you think you sleep apnea, the first thing you should do is to visit a medical professional and have it confirmed. Sleep apnea is a serious condition and should not be ignored.