In general, obstructive sleep apnea is a chronic condition that does not go away on its own. It is a serious condition in which the patient repeatedly stops breathing while sleeping due to obstruction of the airway opening. This condition rarely resolves by itself, and most patients will need some intervention to control their symptoms and protect their health. Children with sleep apnea can maintain hope that the condition will be treated successfully and definitively.
Removal of tonsils and adenoids with tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy can be very beneficial for children with sleep apnea. Treating allergies and hard palate expansion with orthodontic therapy called rapid maxillary expansion may also be helpful. Snoring in itself, although annoying, is not the same as sleep apnea. You can snore loudly and not have sleep apnea, and you may even have sleep apnea without snoring too much.
In many cases, people don't know that they have stopped breathing and believe that their sleep cycle is normal. If you have been suffering from any symptoms of sleep apnea, such as loud and excessive snoring, daytime sleepiness or frequent headaches or sore throat when you wake up, don't ignore them. People who are overweight are more likely to have extra tissue in the back of the throat, which can fall through the airways and block airflow to the lungs while they sleep. A recent Johns Hopkins study looked at what happens to metabolism at night when patients with sleep apnea don't use their CPAP.
A sleep specialist may order a sleep apnea test, which uses equipment to monitor breathing and oxygen levels while you sleep. Oral appliances can help with sleep apnea by repositioning your jaw or tongue to keep your airways open while you sleep. Sleep apnea occurs in about 3 percent of people with normal weight, but affects more than 20 percent of obese people. The good news is that, for most people, sleep apnea can go away if they partner with a sleep doctor to diagnose the specific cause of apnea and follow the treatment prescribed by the doctor. Having obstructive sleep apnea puts you at risk for other conditions, such as high blood pressure and stroke.
There are many studies that show that losing weight can completely cure sleep apnea or at least make it less severe. If you're looking for options outside the sleep lab and in-network, here are four CPAP machines you should consider from top brands. Before continuing treatment, patients must complete a sleep study to obtain a definitive diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea.
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