Let’s know about sleep apnea treatment and diagnosis. By the end of this article, you will be able to know about the most common questions answers like sleep apnea test at home, sleep apnea treatment without CPAP, new sleep apnea treatment options, sleep apnea therapies & machines, etc.
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder due to which people cannot breathe while sleeping for a short period. Therefore, patients do not get enough oxygen. As a result, they do not sleep well. In addition to sleeplessness, sleep apnea for a long time can promote some other health risks. Like:
- Can be a factor in memory loss.
- Risk of heart disease increases.
- The immune system may be weak.
- Can promote mental diseases.
Sleep apnea sometimes sounds like snoring. In many cases, some people are unaware that they are unable to breathe. They think everything is normal. Basically, medication, surgery and breathing devices, etc are used to treat it.
Procedure of diagnosis
Diagnosis of sleep apnea is done based on your sleep history, signs, and symptoms. After studying these conditions you can be referred to a sleep disorder center
Sleep specialists at the sleep center will study you closely to send you for the next evaluation.
Evaluated is done by keeping you in a sleep center one night and monitoring your body functions and breathing while sleeping. If you want, you can do this test in your home too.
Nocturnal polysomnography test to detect sleep apnea: During this test, equipment is put on your body that monitors your lung and brain activity, breathing patterns, blood oxygen levels, heart, arm, and leg movements while sleeping.
Sleep apnea test at home
Your doctor might give you some simplified tests to use at home to detect sleep apnea at home. This simplified test is done to measure the quantity of your blood oxygen level, breathing patterns, heart rate, and airflow.
If the result of this test is not normal then you can be told to take some medications. Portable monitoring devices sometimes cannot detect some cases of sleep apnea. Therefore, even after the results of the initial test are normal, you may recommend doing a nocturnal polysomnography test.
New treatments for sleep apnea
There are many treatments available for sleep apnea. In moderate cases of sleep apnea, you are advised only to make some changes in your lifestyle. Like avoid smoking and alcohol, losing weight, etc.
In cases of severe sleep apnea, you are treated with some equipment. In some cases, the patient may also need to undergo surgery.
Some lifestyle home remedies to reduce sleep apnea are given below:
Losing weight
Obesity promotes sleep apnea. That’s why doctors recommend to excess weight people to reduce weight. Due to excess body fat in the upper body, your nasal passages become narrow. Which promotes nasal obstruction.
Which increases the risk of airway obstruction. Airway obstruction causes breathing difficulties at bedtime. According to one sleep study, maintaining a healthy weight and regular exercise eliminates the need for long-term CPAP therapy and upper airway surgery.
By reducing excess fats, your airways also work well and you are able to sleep well. In many cases of sleep apnea, maintaining a healthy weight can end your symptoms.
Find your right sleep position
According to a 2006 study, in the case of obstructive sleep apnea, more than half of the cases depend on your sleeping position. In another study, it was found that sleeping in the back can increase sleep apnea.
It was seen in the study that sleeping on the side for some adults makes their breath normal again. Another 2002 study found that children with sleep apnea are able to sleep well on their backs.
So to decide which position is right for you, share your symptoms with a sleep doctor, he will study your symptoms and advise you on the right position.
Do yoga breathing exercises to get enough oxygen
Yoga basically increases your respiratory strength as well as eliminates your depression and anxiety and regulates oxygen flow. Yoga works directly to eliminate your sleep apnea problem.
A fundamental factor in sleep apnea is the lack of oxygen in the blood. And by doing yoga this deficiency is fulfilled.
Many yoga breathing exercises exist to increase the oxygen flow in the blood and to reduce respiratory events. You can benefit from this by practicing it.
Say no to alcohol and smoking
By taking alcohol daily, your throat muscles become loose which controls your breathing. As a result, it worsens your sleep by blocking airflow. This medical condition also promotes snoring.
In the same way, the use of tobacco also promotes inflammation in your airways. Due to which your symptoms increase further. According to a 2012 study, smoking helps to promote sleep apnea.
According to the study, most people suffering from sleep apnea already have the habit of smoking, so with the treatment of sleep apnea, you can eliminate the smoking habit.
Try a humidifier
A device called a humidifier is used to bring wetness into the air. Dry air can irritate your respiratory system. The humidifier helps clear your airways and provides you with clear breathing at bedtime.
You can add essential oils like peppermint, lavender, or eucalyptus oil in a humidifier to double its benefits. These three essential oils have soothing benefits.
Apart from this, these are also known for their anti-inflammatory properties. Always keep the humidifier clean to keep it away from bacteria.
Sleep apnea therapies, machine & devices
There are many therapies for treatment for sleep. They are:
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy:
In this therapy, you are given air pressure through a mask for continuous airflow. By opening the upper airways, this pressure is very helpful to eliminate apnea and snoring.
This continuous positive airway pressure is greater than surrounding air which works well in the treatments of moderate and severe sleep apnea.
Many people do not feel comfortable with the CPAP machine. That’s why many people stop using it. But you don’t have to do this. You must take a mask of the right size for comfort use.
So, please try different masks and get your doctor’s advice on how to use the CPAP machine more comfortably. Another thing to keep in mind is that if your weight has changed then the pressure settings of the CPAP machine also have to be changed.
Otherwise, the machine does not work effectively. So definitely take advice from your therapist on this matter. If you are finding it very difficult to use a continuous positive airway pressure machine, then you can use an Auto-CPAP machine instead.
It can automatically adjust the machine’s pressure. This machine is also able to give you bilevel positive airway pressure (BPAP). The benefit of this machine is that you do not need to think about the pressure settings of the machine.
Sleep apnea treatment without CPAP
Use oral appliance therapy to reduce respiratory events
According to a 2015 guideline, oral appliances are an ideal option for people with sleep apnea who do not like to use a CPAP device. By keeping your tongue or jaw in the correct position, oral appliances help to maintain proper airflow.
By forwarding your lower jaw or tongue, this oral equipment frees the airway by reducing throat obstructions. According to the American academy of dental sleep medicine, oral appliances therapy is considered a powerful treatment of sleep apnea.
Many devices are used to perform this therapy. To find the right device for you, you should try different devices. After finding the right device for you, you should keep going to your dentist frequently for the first year of using it to check whether the device is properly fitted or not.
Try adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) appliances
ASV is a modern technology airflow device that understands your normal breathing pattern and gathers information about it. While you sleep, this ASV machine provides pressure to normalize your breathing pattern based on that information.
In the case of complex sleep apnea, this ASV machine works more efficiently than a CPAP device. But this machine is may not right for people suffering from advanced heart failure and predominant central sleep apnea.
- Supplemental oxygen is a perfect option to reduce central sleep apnea. There are many devices to increase the amount of oxygen by which many people have benefited.
- Neuromuscular or heart attack can be caused by central sleep apnea. Therefore, you can eliminate this sleep disorder by treating these conditions.
Surgery for sleep apnea
If all other treatment is not able to eliminate the problem of your sleep apnea, then only think about surgery. For at least three months try all treatments and only then do surgery. There are many surgical options for this sleep disorder:
Tissue removal surgery option
This surgery is basically done to reduce snoring and make throat structures free of vibration. In this surgery, the throat doctor removes the tissue from the top of your throat and the rear of your mouth.
During this procedure, your adenoids and tonsils are also removed. But it is not considered a reliable treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. It is not so effective compared to CPAP therapy.
Tissue removal surgery is the right option for people who are uncomfortable with oral appliances or CPAP therapy.
Maxillomandibular advancement
This surgery is done by repositioning the jaw by moving your jaw ahead from the rest of the bones of your face. This surgery is done to enlarge the space behind the soft palate and tongue.
Tissue shrinkage condition
Another surgery is done by radiofrequency ablation by shrinking the tissue of the back of your throat and the rear of your mouth.
Surgical risks in this surgery are less than tissue removal surgery. These surgeries are best for treating mild to moderate sleep apnea.
Inserting stimulator
This surgery is done by inserting a stimulator for the nerve to properly control the tongue movement.
This nerve stimulator enhances stimulation and frees the airway and provides correct airflow. It is important to do more research to know the effectiveness of this surgery.
Implants
Some special soft rods made of plastic or polyester are implanted in your soft palate to do this sleep disorder surgery. Like nerve stimulation, this surgery also needs more research.
Tracheostomy
When all the treatment of sleep apnea given earlier does not work on you, then the therapist advises you to do tracheostomy surgery. During this surgery, a plastic or metal tube is inserted through a hole in your neck to breathe.
Surgery is done to remove enlarged tonsils or adenoids and weight-loss surgery (bariatric) is used to treat snoring. This is done by enlarging and clearing the air passages. These surgeries also help in reducing sleep apnea symptoms.
Caution: You must have heard about the treatment of sleep apnea on many social platforms or TV. But before trying them all, please consult a doctor. Otherwise, your problem may increase rather than decrease.Things to keep in mind when you are preparing for an appointment
If you think you are suffering from sleep apnea, then see a therapist immediately. Your sleeping partner may be aware of your symptoms more than you because you are not conscious while sleeping to understand sleep apnea symptoms.
So talk to the sleeping partner about symptoms. When you are preparing for an appointment then the therapist can ask you to do things like maintain a sleep diary or modify your diet, etc in advance.
So you should first ask whether you have to do anything in advance or not. Before going to the therapist, make a list of some important topics:
- With the help of your partner, make a list of symptoms and also write the time from when you suffering. Also, make a list of symptoms that you may find unrelated to sleep apnea.
- Along with doses, make a list of vitamins or supplements, sedatives, and medicine that you are taking.
- Make a list of the entire history of your family, people who were or are suffering from sleep disorders.
Take a family member or your sleeping partner with you to the therapist. Which will help to explain your symptoms to the therapist well.
The therapist may ask you such questions:
- How does your sleeping partner describe your symptoms?
- Are your symptoms mild, moderate, or severe?
- Are your symptoms temporary or sustained?
- What promotes your symptoms? Such as tobacco, alcohol, or your sleep position.
- Do you know how often your breath stops at bedtime?
You can ask this kind of questions to the doctor:
- What can be the most likely cause of my sleep apnea?
- Do I need to do tests?
- If yes, what kind of tests should I do?
- Do I have to prepare in advance to get these tests done?
- What treatments exist for my condition?
- Which treatments are best for me in this condition?
- My situation is long-lasting or temporary?
- If you are suffering from other health issues, then ask: How do I manage these two health conditions properly?
- Should I consult a sleep apnea specialist?
Conclusion
Hope you guys like this article about sleep apnea treatment and diagnosis. lifestyle changes and home remedies work well to reduce mild to moderate sleep apnea to a great extent. But if your symptoms are severe, then according to a therapist, you should take all other treatments like therapy, surgery, and medicine, etc.
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