Did you know that 22 million Americans suffer with some form of obstructive sleep apnea (or OSA)? What’s worse is the same source (the American Sleep Association) reports that more than 80% of those individuals, aren’t diagnosed or treated for their sleep disorder. In the case of sleep apnea, snoring can literally become life-threatening. Especially when you consider that untreated OSA can develop into more serious health conditions (i.e., heart disease or stroke, metabolic disease, diabetes, etc.).
Thankfully, if OSA is diagnosed and treated, managing the disorder in addition to preventing many of the more serious health issues mentioned above, can be avoided. Here are some effective treatments for chronic snoring and sleep apnea:
1. CPAP
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (or CPAP) is likely the most popular and effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. CPAP is usually a nasal mask fitted over the patient’s mouth and nose during sleep, which uses a pump to keep the airways open and unrestricted during sleep by maintaining positive airflow. In fact, studies show that it’s almost 100% effective when it comes to relieving sleep apnea symptoms completely, and safeguarding your health against more serious health conditions. According to the American Sleep Association, patients treated with CPAP claim immediate improvement of the most common OSA symptoms (i.e., dry mouth, headache, sore throat, gasping, choking, breathing cessation, sleep disruption, daytime fatigue, and loud snoring).
2. APAP or biPAP therapy
While CPAP is widely effective, some OSA patients are unable to wear the mask due to discomfort or headache. In addition, about 30% of CPAP patients report eye or nasal pain and congestion, and abdominal bloat when wearing a mask. Luckily, automatic positive airway pressure (APAP) therapy and bilevel positive airway pressure (or BiPAP) offers a pain-free alternative. APAP and biPAP monitor air pressure and oxygen levels during sleep, while making adjustments for body movement and changes in breathing.
3. Healthy lifestyle changes
Most times, health professionals will suggest OSA aids in addition to suggesting healthy lifestyle changes to lessen OSA symptoms. For instance, overweight individuals often have difficulty breathing during sleep when the upper airway becomes compressed, resulting in obstructions and snoring.
4. Oral OSA devices
For individuals with only moderate sleep apnea, another common alternative to a CPAP mask is a mandibular advancement devices (MADs). These dental devices can be worn as the patient slumbers and work similar to a mouthguard, pushing the lower jaw down and the tongue forward so the airway remains open. For safety reasons, all MADs should personally and professionally fitted by a dental professional.
