A growing number of the population of the world are being diagnosed with sleep apnea, a serious and in some instances even life threatening. By definition sleep apnea is a breathing disorder that occurs while a person sleeps that causes one to have periods where they stop breathing. There are many symptoms of sleep apnea which include loud snoring, long pauses in between breaths, sore throat when one wakes up, and insomnia. Do not be afraid though for there are many sleep apnea cures. Some very easy and common cures include lifestyle and sleeping position changes. There are some cases though where one would need medical intervention.
A simple adjustment that could be done in a person’s daily routine is a lifestyle change. Being overweight can influence sleep apnea. The extra pounds can push into your diaphragm which then pushes into the lungs making breathing more difficult and more labored. Smoking, drinking alcohol, taking sleeping pills and sedatives can all impact a sleep apnea patient. Smoking damages the lungs and makes breathing harder both awake and asleep. Alcohol, sleeping pills, and sedatives all relax muscles located in the throat thus interfering breathing. These simple lifestyle changes could be the key to recovering from sleep apnea.
Changing how a person sleeps can assist with the sleep apnea. Having a regular sleep schedule with an adequate amount of sleep can help with sleep apnea. Also, sleeping on the side or with the head in an elevated position can line up the throat in the correct position to allow proper breathing. A person could also purchase over the counter cures such as a saline spray, a nasal dilator, or a nasal strip. A person’s sleep schedule is instrumental in every aspect of their daily life and it can certainly help with sleep apnea.
In some cases there is a need for medical intervention. This would be when the case was so severe that the simple changes alone will not help. A doctor may prescribe that a Continuous Positive Airflow Pressure (CPAP) be used. A CPAP is a machine that assists in breathing while asleep, it involves using a machine called a concentrator that uses room air and concentrates the level of the oxygen in the air and a face mask. Some masks only cover the nose while others cover the nose and mouth and the whole face. The doctor may also suggest getting the tonsils and adenoids removed. There is also another type of surgery that removes the excess tissue from the mouth and back of the throat. A reconstruction surgery of the jaw can be necessary in extreme cases. That surgery is rarely done because of the risks involved so rest assured that would only be done as a last resort. Tracheotomies are sometimes done when there is an outlying medical reason for the sleep apnea such as a massive brain injury. The patient would then use a ventilator with the trachea tube to breath and bi-pass the area that is causing the sleep apnea. Extreme cases can have the need for medical attention, but sleep apnea is a very common problem with relatively easy medical intervention.
Sleep apnea is an illness that can be severe if left untreated. If one suspects they or their partner has sleeping apnea they should talk with their doctor about it. A simple sleep study is done to diagnose sleep apnea. There are many sleep apnea cures out there that include not only areas of sleep schedule and lifestyle changes but also medical intervention. Do fear sleep apnea occurs regularly and it can be cured and it can be controlled.