Treatment options for sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea more commonly known as sleep apnea affects millions of people all across the globe. Various methods were used to address the problem and one of which is positive airway pressure therapy. However, this treatment modality is not the right fit for all patients and luckily Avi Weisfogel knows how to treat it.

Alternatives for Improving Sleep Apnea

Fortunately, there are alternative methods for improving sleep apnea. They are the following:

1. Hypoglossus Nerve Stimulation – It is a different approach to managing sleep apnea. A small device is implanted in the chest which can be turned on and off by the patient. What the device does is it monitors the patient’s breathing during sleep. It has the ability to stimulate the nerve that keeps the airway open. A research was made and showed improvement on patient’s sleep apnea symptoms. Hypoglossus nerve stimulation is perfect for people with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea.
2. Expiratory Positive Airway Pressure/EPAP – Disposable adhesive valves are placed over the nose of the patient during sleep. The valve opens up during inhalation keeping the airway unobstructed. During exhalation, the flow of air is directed into the small channels creating pressure and keeping the airway open. The goal is to keep the airway unobstructed throughout the course of sleep, which is helpful in patients with moderate to severe sleep apnea.

Traditional sleep apnea treatment and management approach

1. Positive Airway Therapy – It is one of the classic methods of managing sleep apnea. The PAP system is recommended for people with moderate to severe sleep apnea. A nasal or full face mask is worn by the patient during sleep. It delivers pressurized air to the upper airway so as to prevent it from collapsing during sleep.
2. Oral pressure therapy – Instead of using the mask, this method uses an oral or dental device such as a mouthpiece with tubing and a small vacuum console. It repositions the tongue and soft palate to prevent them from blocking the airway during sleep.
3. Oral appliance – This sounds similar to oral pressure therapy but functions differently. Oral appliances look like a mouth guard. They are worn by the patient during sleep. They function by moving the tongue and lower jaw forward and upward to keep the airway open and facilitate breathing during sleep. There are readily available over-the-counter oral appliances, but it is best to have a custom-fitted oral appliance. Instead of the traditional sleep specialist, you are going to see a dental sleep medicine specialist. It is a dentist trained to treat and manage sleep apnea during dentistry approach. This type of treatment and management approach works best for people who snore, suffering from mild to moderate sleep apnea, and those have tried positive airway pressure therapy but unsuccessful.

Should you wish to try wearing oral appliance to manage your sleep apnea, the next step you should do is to find the best dental sleep specialist in your area. Look for certificate of training and credentials as only the highly trained dental sleep specialist can handle your case in the most effective way.

Contact Dr. Avi Weisfogel for more information on treatments for sleep apnea.

The post Treatment options for sleep apnea Find more on: Dr. Avi Weisfogel

from
https://www.aviweisfogel.net/treatment-options-for-sleep-apnea/