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With all the available medical treatments for sleep apnea, the vast majority of cases still remain undiagnosed and untreated due to a lack of awareness. To further increase the awareness concerning sleep apnea, the American Sleep Apnea Association is looking for sleep apnea patients and encouraging them to share their concerns. This may be the best medication yet! The ASAA believes that, by promoting awareness among the sufferers themselves, they will be able to prevent more cases from going undiagnosed. This method was established to promote information effectively just like a homepage on the internet which provides "pop-up" boxes for inquiries, testimonials, and related stories. In the case of the ASAA plan, formerly treated patients will hopefully create "pop-up" diagnoses amongst their friends, family members or acquaintances who were previously undiagnosed. The diabetes society and cancer society, for example, use this same technique to promote awareness through their previously diagnosed patients.
Of course, like any other disease or health condition, medical research has come up with many forms of medication for sleep apnea. These medications are usually oral and they prevent and control muscle collapse in the throat which occurs during sleep. This is what causes airway blockage and then results in sleep apnea. It won't be you who will determine the suitable treatment however! It is only your doctor who can determine which treatment will be best.
There are many medicated treatment plans for sleep apnea and one of the more famous and intriguing approaches that has shown great results is the "Pilar Procedure". This procedure is carried out by placing three small woven inserts into the soft palate of the mouth. This reduces the vibrations that cause the snoring noise in sleep apnea patients. According to the FDA, this treatment is approved and is virtually pain free. About eighty percent of all patients suffering from sleep apnea and snoring have been satisfied with the comfortable effect of this approach. This is even true considering that it can be done in one simple office visit!
Treatment of the more mild cases of sleep apnea is often done through changes in lifestyle. These changes in lifestyle include avoiding medication that causes relaxation of the central nervous system such as sedatives and muscle relaxants. Instead, they incorporate the losing of weight, the quitting of smoking and the avoidance of alcohol. They also involve sleeping in a different position with the help of a special pillow. This pillow is a device that keeps you from sleeping on your back to keep the airway open during sleep. This tells us that good posture while sleeping contributes to the quality of sleep. The likes of a water bed or a good quality bed mattress, for instance, may also provide a comfortable and relaxing position that result in a deeper sleep.
Less fortunate individuals who suffer from a more severe case of sleep apnea are typically treated using air blowing machines called Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (C-PAP) machines. This instrument blows air into the nose of the patient via a tube and a mask. For a more severe situation, another type of machine called a Bi-Level Machine (Bi-PAP) works by blowing two different pressures of air to help the lungs breathe in and out properly.
In cases where the modification of either the uvula or the dangling tissue at the rear of the throat is needed, uvulopalatopharygoplasty or UPPP is a form of surgery that can be carried out. In children, Adenotonsillectomy along with weight normalization is considered to be the first line of treatment. This procedure is characterized by the removal of tonsils and adenoids to increase the cross-sectional airway of the patient. Occasionally, medical procedures such as these only help the problem but do not totally eliminate it. Therefore, they must still be accompanied by a device like a C-PAP, nasal mask, face mask, gel mask or nasal pillow.
Keeping your healthy lifestyle and regaining your happy family life are the most significant reasons for seeking medical treatment for sleep apnea. Bear in mind that only a doctor can determine the causes and the type of the treatment which suits you best. It is up to you to seek out the proper diagnosis from a doctor and attend to this very serious problem of sleep apnea
Sleep Apnea, a serious sleep disorder, is caused when the sleeper's breathing is temporarily interrupted while sleeping. Sleep Apnea is dangerous, unpleasant and those persons experiencing any symptoms of this disorder are encouraged to seek medical attention. Sleep Apnea is categorized into two types: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Central Sleep Apnea.
OSA is caused by the sleeper's airway being blocked by the soft palate (the soft tissue in the back of the throat) collapsing while sleeping. Symptomatic patients experience disrupted sleep when the airway is blocked, causing them to snore very loudly, followed by periods of 10 seconds or more of silence whereby the lack of oxygen to the brain and increased carbon dioxide intake causes them to wake up abruptly, sometimes with a choking or gasping sound, as they regain their breathing. Oftentimes these episodes occur hundreds of times per night and the patient has no recollection of this phenomena, only experiencing sleepiness during the day, possible morning headaches, forgetfulness, changes in mood and a lack of interest in sexual activity. The patient can also complain of a recurrence of dry or sore throat upon awakening. This is the most common form of sleep apnea, mostly affecting overweight males over the age of 40. OSA has been known to affect anyone, regardless of age (including children) or gender and is considered to be genetic. Persons having a large neck or a lot of tissue in the back of the throat also have a higher risk for OSA.
In persons who suffer from Central Sleep Apnea, the airway in the throat is not obstructed but the respiratory control center is affected, causing the brain to fail in sending the proper signals to breathe. This disorder is given its name because it is common among people with a central nervous system dysfunction. This can occur if a person has suffered a stroke, heart failure, heart or lung disease and patients of neuromuscular diseases such as ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). The symptoms for this type of sleep apnea are similar to those of OSA but also include insomnia and more frequent nightly awakenings.
If either type of sleep apnea remains untreated, there are risks of health problems resulting from this disorder. Hypertension, heart failure, irregular heartbeats, heart attacks and stroke are risks of untreated sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can affect people socially as well as medically, resulting in lack of enthusiasm and underachievement in academics for children and adolescents, and a reduction of productiveness on the job for adults as well as being a potential cause of motor vehicle accidents.
If a person thinks they might be experiencing sleep apnea, your doctor can diagnose by performing a polysomnogram (PSG) test. The person would be required to sleep for the doctor and various body functions would be tested during this supervised sleep. The doctor tests the electrical activity of the brain, muscle activity, heart rate, eye movements, respiratory effort, blood oxygen levels and air flow that the patient's body undergoes involuntarily while sleeping. Additionally, a multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) is administered the following day, measuring the speed of falling asleep during various times of the day when the patient would normally be awake.
A polysomnogram (PSG) is a test used to diagnose sleep apnea. During the test, a variety of body functions, such as the electrical activity of the brain, eye movements, muscle activity, heart rate, respiratory effort, airflow and blood oxygen levels are recorded at night during sleep. After the study is completed, the number of times breathing is impaired during sleep is tallied and the severity of sleep apnea is graded. In some cases, a multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) is performed on the day after the overnight test to measure the speed of falling asleep. In this test, patients are given several opportunities to fall asleep during the course of a day when they normally would be awake.