For someone suffering from sleep apnea, the discomfort of not having a complete sleep is immeasurable. As you know, sleep is the body’s way of recuperating from the day to day grind. Not having enough sleep can lead to not only discomfort but other forms of illnesses too. Which is why it is important to address the problem the soonest time possible. Fortunately, further advancement in the field of sleep medicine was made. Today, treatment and management for sleep apnea are made convenient, accessible, and patient-friendly. The traditional approach to managing sleep apnea is CPAP, but a more comfortable and better treatment management options are being developed which could potentially replace CPAP.
Positive Airway Pressure Therapy
To date, positive airway pressure therapy (PAP Therapy) is one of the most effective ways to manage sleep apnea. It has the ability to reverse the damaging health effects of sleep apnea. However, one of the primary concerns for PAP therapy is compliance. Many sleep apnea patients complain of discomfort while using the mask. As a matter of fact, some don’t even consider the treatment at all. For this reason, sleep medicine experts are looking for a more practical sleep apnea treatment.
Inspire upper airway stimulation is one of the promising developing sleep apnea treatments. It uses a pacemaker technology to stimulate the muscle of the throat. It causes the throat muscles to contract and keep the tissues from collapsing into the airway. How it is done? Through surgery, a pulse generator is implanted in the body. Once the device senses the breathing of the patient, it will send an electrical signal to the throat muscle. As a result, the muscle will pull up and backward keeping the airway open. It is a more comfortable and convenient option than positive airway pressure. Once the patient sleeps, the device will automatically function. No uncomfortable mask to wear during sleep.
Another promising sleep apnea treatment is a dental/oral device. As a matter of fact, it is more comfortable, effective, and viable sleep apnea treatment. No need to wear a mask and most importantly, no need to undergo a surgical procedure. There are now dentists who are experts in dental sleep medicine. If you are a sleep apnea patient, the dental sleep specialist will create a custom-fitted dental appliance, which you need to wear during sleep. It will keep the airway open by repositioning the tongue and moving the mandible a bit forward. This will not only improve your breathing during sleep but also improve the overall structure of the mouth.
Will this mean that positive airway pressure therapy is no longer beneficial? It is still needed, but the emerging treatment options for sleep apnea only goes to show that patients can now choose a treatment and management modality that suit their needs, level of comfort, lifestyle, and budget. Sleep apnea is dangerous, especially when not managed. It could lead to conditions that could be detrimental to your health. Which is why it is important to address it the soonest time possible.
Dr. Avi Weisogel, Dental Sleep Specialist
Contact Dr. Avi Weisfogel here https://www.aviweisfogel.net/
What the future holds for sleep apnea treatment? was initially seen on Dental Sleep MBA Blog
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https://www.aviweisfogel.net/what-the-future-holds-for-sleep-apnea-treatment/
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