If you have a sleep disorder, such as apnea, then you know the symptoms can be debilitating. From persistent sleepiness to depression to heart disease, this sleep problem can wreak havoc on your life if you don’t act quickly. Sleep apnea treatment is usually quite simple, but it requires active participation from the patient. In this article, we’ll talk about the treatment options available and the possible consequences of forgoing help.

There currently is no proven sleep medicine for sleep apnea. However, there are four basic approaches to treatment. Firstly, doctors recommend changing the circumstances which may be causing the apnea. This would include suggesting that the patient lose weight, quit smoking and avoid alcohol and sedative drugs.

The sufferer should also get into a regular sleeping schedule and try to sleep only on their side. The second and most common treatment option is in using Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) in the upper airway to support and hold the airway open. This involves wearing a CPAP mask over the nose. The mask provides a supply of continuously flowing air via a flexible plastic hose from a CPAP machine.

The third treatment option is the use of a dental splint. One of the reasons for the upper airway to become narrowed at night is because the tongue falls posteriorly. Using a dental splint at night prevents the jaw and tongue from moving back. However, oral devices have not proven to be as effective, as CPAP and the appliances can be uncomfortable.

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