How is obstructive sleep apnea treated?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:If you have obstructive sleep apnea, which occurs when something is literally obstructing or blocking your airway while you sleep, your first line of defense is to lose weight if you are overweight. Any excess fat in your neck may contribute to the obstruction. Also quit smoking if you smoke. These two activities can go a long way to helping you breathe easy while you sleep. For some people, these activities alone can eliminate sleep apnea altogether.
The catch is, it's very difficult to accomplish either of those things when you are sleep deprived. So you may need treatment—most frequently in the form of a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine.
A CPAP will help you breathe regularly while you're sleeping by increasing air pressure in your throat, so it doesn't close. It's often 100% effective in treating obstructive sleep apnea and it stops your snoring too. But you may need to use it for the rest of your life.
For extreme cases, surgery is an option. Obese people may consider bariatric surgery to lose weight. Others may have surgery to remove some of the soft tissue in the throat, though this isn't always effective. When all else fails, a tracheostomy may be needed—this is a hole surgically placed in the neck so you can breathe directly into your trachea. Most likely, you won't need to do this.If you have obstructive sleep apnea, which occurs when something is literally obstructing or blocking your airway while you sleep, your first line of defense is to lose weight if you are overweight. Any excess fat in your neck may contribute... More -
Dr. Phil Westbrook answered:First, the good news. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is pretty easy to diagnose and it can be treated successfully. The bad news is that treating it is not always easy. OSA is a life-long disease, and like many other chronic diseases it can be managed over a patient's lifetime, but rarely "cured". The person who treats a chronic disease like OSA is the patient with the disease, and treatment almost always carries not only benefit but also some burden. So if you are a patient with OSA the success of your prescribed treatment depends on your willingness to use it.
The answer to how OSA is treated is too important and too complicated to cover adequately in the space allotted here, so for now I will just cover some general principles that you (here I am assuming that you are a patient with OSA) and your doctor might consider. I will list the treatments available and then cover each one in more detail in the answers to questions about specific treatments.
The goals of treatment are to prevent the abnormal breathing events in sleep. You want the signs and symptoms of OSA to disappear, and your sleep quality to improve. You want to avoid the long-term cardiovascular and neurologic consequences of OSA.
You also want to avoid situations that could place you in danger, situations that might not be so risky for patients without OSA. This means that you need to fully understand OSA, the risks having it, and the importance of treating it. You should know that alcohol within two hours of your bedtime can make your sleep apnea worse. You should know that smoking can make OSA worse. Certain sleeping medications should be avoided. It is terribly important that other doctors you see know that you have sleep apnea, so make sure you give them a copy of your sleep study report. Surgery in patients with OSA carries increased risk, especially if opioid (narcotic) pain relief will be required.
The treatments that are currently available include:
- Weight loss, both by diet alone or diet plus weight loss surgery
- Restricting sleeping position (avoiding back sleeping)
- Devices that hold the lower jaw and or tongue forward
- Positive airway pressure
- Upper airway surgery
- Stimulant medication for sleepiness
Helpful? 1 person found this helpfulFirst, the good news. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is pretty easy to diagnose and it can be treated successfully. The bad news is that treating it is not always easy. OSA is a life-long disease, and like many other chronic diseases it can be... More -
Deborah Davis answered:For milder cases of obstructive sleep apnea, lifestyle changes may be recommended such as losing weight or quitting smoking. If these measures don't improve your signs and symptoms or if your apnea is moderate to severe, a number of other treatments like continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP are available. Mouthpiece (oral device) can help open up a blocked airway. In other cases, surgery may be necessary.Helpful? 1 person found this helpfulFor milder cases of obstructive sleep apnea, lifestyle changes may be recommended such as losing weight or quitting smoking. If these measures don't improve your signs and symptoms or if your apnea is moderate to severe, a number of other... More -
American Society of Anesthesiologists answered:A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine is one form of treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Patients who use CPAP wear a plastic mask over their nose and/or mouth during sleep. The machine then gently blows pressurized room air through the airway at a pressure high enough to keep the throat open.
Helpful? 1 person found this helpfulA continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine is one form of treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Patients who use CPAP wear a plastic mask over their nose and/or mouth during sleep. The machine then gently blows pressurized... More -
Dr. Natalia Rost answered:If obstructive sleep apnea can't be reduced by losing weight, avoiding alcohol, and discontinuing medications that may suppress breathing, then your doctor will recommend treatment. This might consist of use of a machine to improve breathing, drugs, or surgery.If obstructive sleep apnea can't be reduced by losing weight, avoiding alcohol, and discontinuing medications that may suppress breathing, then your doctor will recommend treatment. This might consist of use of a machine to improve breathing, drugs,... More -
Dr. Michael Breus answered:CPAP -- continuous positive airway pressure -- is the most commonly prescribed treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). CPAP works by pushing air constantly through the airway, keeping it open and allowing un-interrupted breathing through a night's sleep. It's a safe, effective, well-tested treatment for OSA that has proven results. The biggest challenge to CPAP success? Getting patients to use the device consistently.CPAP -- continuous positive airway pressure -- is the most commonly prescribed treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). CPAP works by pushing air constantly through the airway, keeping it open and allowing un-interrupted breathing... More -
Dr. John Van der Werff answered:It can be treated by 4 ways.
- Things you can do on your own like weight loss and avoid sleeping on your back.
- Surgery; there are many types of surgeries and the advantages and disadvantages should be discussed with the treating doctor.
- An oral appliance that moves the lower jaw forward keeping the airway open.
- CPAP; a machine that blows air down the throat to keep the airway open.
If a person has sleep apnea, each of these areas should be discussed with their doctor to find what is most appropriate.
It can be treated by 4 ways. Things you can do on your own like weight loss and avoid sleeping on your back. Surgery; there are many types of surgeries and the advantages and disadvantages should be discussed with the treating doctor. An... More
