Local Care - Sleep Apnea Testing

Sleep Apnea Behavioral Therapy

Sleep apnea remedies don't have to involve breathing machines or complicated sleep apnea surgery. When it comes to treating sleep apnea, behavioral changes can offer snoring relief and reduce sleep apnea symptoms.

"Behavioral therapy" doesn't mean you sit on Freud's couch and get psychoanalysis. It's about making some simple changes in your life to help manage mild or moderate sleep apnea. With a little effort, you may be able to find a snoring cure, quit tossing and turning, and avoid daytime sleepiness.

If you've had a sleep apnea diagnosis, here are some of the best tips for sleep apnea treatment and snoring prevention:

1. Avoid alcohol. Alcohol, muscle relaxants, opiates and other depressants make breathing more difficult, especially when you sleep. It's especially important to avoid them in the few hours before you fall asleep.
2. Lose weight. The fact is, people who are overweight are more likely to suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. Losing weight doesn't just trim your midsection; it also can give your airways a little more "breathing room."
3. Sleep in a different position. Evidence suggests that you may be able to find a snoring solution by sleeping on your side or stomach instead of your back, or by sleeping in an inclined position. (Some people use a sleep apnea pillow for this purpose.)
4. Quit smoking. Nicotine and cigarettes can make a snoring problem worse.
5. Do breathing exercises. They can make your airway stronger, less likely to collapse as you sleep. Singing lessons can also be a snoring remedy. So can learning the didgeridoo!
6. Avoid congestion. This means avoiding allergens or anything else that may cause mucus: dust, dander, pollen, and dairy products are common culprits.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

Sleep Apnea Surgery: When Nothing Else Works

Sleep apnea surgery is the treatment of last resort for people with severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or sleep disorders who have not found relief from other sleep apnea treatments. When it comes to surgery for sleep apnea, information is key.

In OSA, the airways become obstructed and cause the person to skip breaths and gasp for air. If methods such as lifestyle changes, CPAP machines, and oral appliance therapy are not successful in treating sleep apnea, then sleep apnea physicians may recommend sleep apnea surgery.

There are many parts of the airway (the breathing tubes) that can be obstructed. For sleep apnea surgery to be successful, the sleep apnea dentist or sleep apnea physician must identify and treat all areas with obstructions. For some patients, this may require more than one surgical procedure.

Here is an overview of the different types of sleep apnea surgery:

Maxillomandibular Advancement: This is a type of orthognathic surgery that moves the jaw forward (the same principle behind sleep apnea oral appliance therapy). Also known as bimaxillary advancement (Bi-Max) or maxillomandibular osteotomy (MMO), it's often accompanied by tongue surgery.

Tracheotomy: This is a procedure in which a sleep apnea surgeon creates a new "breathing hole" in the throat. Patients breathe and speak normally during the day, but at night they breathe through the tracheotomy tube in their windpipe. It's a dramatic procedure, but one that's certain to provide relief.

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty: Known as a UPPP or UP3, this is a procedure in which soft tissue is surgically removed from the back of the mouth and throat. The tonsils and uvula are removed, leaving the patient with a "bigger" throat that makes breathing easier. Laser-assisted UP (LAUP) uses a laser to provide similar results. Unfortunately, these procedures are not always successful.

Tongue Reduction: Reducing the size of the tongue can leave more space in the throat and airway. This may be a surgical glossectomy or somnoplasty.

Tongue Advancement: Surgery that pulls the tongue and its muscles toward the front of the mouth. Known as genioglossus and hyoid advancement (GGA), this procedure leaves more space for breathing in the back of the mouth and throat. It is most often done in conjunction with other treatment or surgery.

Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy: This surgery removes the tonsils and adenoids, making more space in the throat for breathing. It is especially useful in treating children's sleep apnea.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.