Sleep Apnea Can you imagine waking up over 100 times per night because you are not breathing. For many people with sleep apnea this is a reality. Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder in which you momentarily stop breathing while you sleep. Some effects of sleep apnea are depression, irritability, learning and memory difficulties, and falling asleep at inappropriate times, such as at work, on the phone, or driving.
There are two different kinds of sleep apnea, obstructive and central. Obstructive sleep apnea, the most common type, occurs when the throat closes during sleep. Central sleep apnea occurs when the airway remains open, but the body makes no attempt to breathe. These breaks …show more content…
The most common, and most effective, treatment is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). CPAP requires the patient to wear a nasal mask while sleeping. This nasal mask provides continuous pressurized air, holding the throat open during sleep. Weight loss can reduce the symptoms in patients who are obese. Even a 10% weight loss can reduce the number of apneic events for most patients. For some patients wearing a dental appliance at night may enlarge the airway by holding the jaw or tongue slightly forward, away from the back of the throat. There are also several surgical procedures that are used to reduce symptoms of sleep apnea. Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is a procedure used to remove excess tissue at the back of the throat, such as the tonsils, the uvula, and part of the soft palate. The success rate of this procedure is 30-50%. For people who have severe, life threatening sleep apnea tracheostomy may be necessary. This procedure requires a small hole to be made in the windpipe and a tube inserted into the opening. The tube stays closed during waking hours, and the person breathes and speaks normally. When asleep, the tube is opened and air flows directly into the lungs, bypassing any upper airway blockage. None of these procedures are completely successful or without risks. More than one procedure may need to be tried before the patient realizes any
There are two different kinds of sleep apnea, obstructive and central. Obstructive sleep apnea, the most common type, occurs when the throat closes during sleep. Central sleep apnea occurs when the airway remains open, but the body makes no attempt to breathe. These breaks …show more content…
The most common, and most effective, treatment is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). CPAP requires the patient to wear a nasal mask while sleeping. This nasal mask provides continuous pressurized air, holding the throat open during sleep. Weight loss can reduce the symptoms in patients who are obese. Even a 10% weight loss can reduce the number of apneic events for most patients. For some patients wearing a dental appliance at night may enlarge the airway by holding the jaw or tongue slightly forward, away from the back of the throat. There are also several surgical procedures that are used to reduce symptoms of sleep apnea. Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is a procedure used to remove excess tissue at the back of the throat, such as the tonsils, the uvula, and part of the soft palate. The success rate of this procedure is 30-50%. For people who have severe, life threatening sleep apnea tracheostomy may be necessary. This procedure requires a small hole to be made in the windpipe and a tube inserted into the opening. The tube stays closed during waking hours, and the person breathes and speaks normally. When asleep, the tube is opened and air flows directly into the lungs, bypassing any upper airway blockage. None of these procedures are completely successful or without risks. More than one procedure may need to be tried before the patient realizes any