If you suspect that you have sleep apnea or are diagnosed with the disorder, you may be wondering about your next step. Doctors recommend several lifestyle changes to improve your health, such as losing weight, quitting smoking, and treating any allergies you may have. If your sleep apnea does not improve after making these changes, our sleep apnea clinic in Montreal can help you. The Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is known as the top treatment for those experiencing sleep apnea. However, some cases may need surgery.
Treatments for OSA
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is caused by obstruction of the airway. The recommended treatment is to start with lifestyle changes and added therapies to try and find a solution for sleep apnea in Montreal.
If that doesn’t work, there are various treatments for OSA:
- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) – Sometimes referred to as a sleep apnea machine in Montreal, this treatment involves sleeping with the aid of a machine that delivers constant positive air pressure to your airway via a mask. You receive adequate oxygen during sleep.
- Automatic Positive Airway Pressure (APAP) – Similar to the CPAP, this machine aids in delivering adequate oxygen to your body while you sleep. The main difference is that the APAP machine senses and automatically adjusts oxygen pressure according to your needs.
- Mouthpieces – A mouthpiece is an oral device used to alleviate symptoms of mild to moderate OSA. Some of these mouthpieces move your lower jaw forward which widens your upper airway while others are used to keep your tongue in a position where it won’t fall back and obstruct the airway.
- Soft Tissue Surgery – Sometimes it is necessary to surgically remove tissue from the top of your throat and/or the back of your mouth. Other surgeries that may help are removal of your tonsils and adenoids.
- Jaw Surgery – In severe cases, it may be necessary for a surgeon to move the upper and lower parts of your jaw forward in order to enlarge the passageway behind the tongue and soft palate, and thereby reduce the possibility of obstructions.
Treatments for CSA
Central sleep apnea (CSA) is not caused by an obstruction of the airway but an issue with brain function.
CSA can be caused by an underlying medical condition, narcotic use, or from recently being in high altitude.
Treatment options for CSA include:
- Treatment of underlying illness – Stroke, heart failure, kidney failure, and Parkinson’s disease can be contributing factors for CSA. If these conditions are treated, the CSA may resolve itself.
- Lifestyle changes – Weight loss, cessation of smoking, and abstaining from alcohol and certain medication may help ease the effects of CSA.
- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) – This treatment is used to apply a continuous stream of air through your nose and mouth via a mask. The pressure from the airflow aids your breathing and helps you achieve better sleep.
Curious about the different treatment options for sleep apnea? GRS Médical can tell everything you should know about sleep apnea here.
