Sleep apnoea is a serious condition that can have a significant impact on your quality of life. It is characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep, which can lead to snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, and other health problems. Fortunately, there are treatments available that can help manage the symptoms of sleep apnoea. But can it be cured for good? In this article, we'll explore the different types of sleep apnoea, the treatments available, and whether or not it can be cured.
When it comes to sleep apnoea, there are two main types: obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and central sleep apnoea (CSA). OSA is the most common type and is caused by a blockage in the airway due to excess tissue in the back of the throat. CSA is less common and is caused by a problem with the brain's ability to control breathing during sleep. The first step in treating sleep apnoea is to get an accurate diagnosis.
This usually involves an overnight monitoring session at a SLEEP centre, where your breathing and other body functions are monitored while you sleep. Once a diagnosis has been made, your doctor may refer you to an ear, nose and throat specialist to rule out any blockages in your nose or throat. For milder cases of OSA, lifestyle changes such as losing weight or quitting smoking may be recommended. In more severe cases, your doctor may prescribe a device called a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine.
This machine uses pressure to normalize your breathing pattern and prevent pauses in breathing while you sleep. In some cases, surgery may be recommended to open up the throat by bringing the jaw forward. This can help relieve snoring and mild OSA symptoms. For CSA, an evaluation by a heart doctor (cardiologist) or a doctor specialising in the nervous system (neurologist) may be necessary.
The challenge for anyone with sleep apnoea is that the condition can make it especially difficult to lose weight. Overweight people are prone to having excess tissue in the back of the throat, which contributes to OSA, and by losing that weight, a person can effectively alter their anatomy, causing symptoms to be drastically reduced, although not eliminating sleep apnoea completely in most cases. Therefore, to break out of this cycle, the first step for many patients is not only to start a diet and exercise programme, but also to start proper sleep apnoea treatment to give them the energy and will to maintain new, healthy habits. There are also sleep apnoea surgeries that can change a person's anatomy, effectively “curing” the condition - at least in theory. One such procedure is called adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV), which appears to be more successful than other forms of positive airway pressure in treating complex sleep apnoea in some people. So can sleep apnoea be cured for good? The answer is not straightforward as it depends on the type and severity of your condition.
For milder cases of OSA, lifestyle changes such as losing weight or quitting smoking may be enough to reduce symptoms significantly. For more severe cases, CPAP therapy or surgery may be necessary.
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