Without going into the technicalities of how sleep apnea is diagnosed, this condition is characterized by the absence of one or more breaths during sleep. These periods of non-breathing can cause a number of serious health implications, especially as the amount of oxygen breathes in is significantly decreased. Luckily for sufferers of apnea (almost one in fifteen US citizens) there are many successful treatments, once a definitive diagnosis has been obtained.

Luckily for sleep apnea sufferers, the condition has been well researched and is becoming much better recognized than it has been in the past. Because sleep apnea occurs during sleep, the sufferer themselves often don't notice, and just put up with their unexplained tiredness and lethargy during the day. Now that general practitioners know about the condition they can send people with probable symptoms of the disorder to sleep clinics for diagnosis, and after that for the relevant treatment. Unfortunately for some people, they don't seek treatment for sleep apnea until they enter a relationship or get married, as nobody has witnessed the sleep apnea occurring.

There are three main courses of treatment that can be taken for sleep apnea. The first, for those with mild to moderate apnea, is oral or dental devices, worn at night to open up the airway. Such devices usually work by simply pushing the bottom jaw forward, which opens up the airway and combats the problem of the airway muscles relaxing so that they obstruct or inhibit airflow. Patients will need to visit a dental professional to have a dental device for sleep apnea treatment fitted, mainly because they need to be molded to the individual's mouth. Not all dental professionals are trained in how to create and fit dental devices, but it's worth asking your dentist to refer you to one who can. This is likely to be your local orthodontist.

The second avenue of sleep apnea treatment is for people with moderate to severe cases; CPAP devices. CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure and the device itself works by pumping pressurized air into the airways to stop them collapsing or relaxing too much. CPAP devices are placed over the nose, much like an oxygen mask and are secured around the head to prevent them slipping off during the night. Training and guidance is recommended when using a CPAP device as it can take a while to get used to sleeping with one on.

The third, last and most extreme sleep apnea treatment is surgery, reserved for those who have severe apnea symptoms. This is a possibility which is usually only sought after once the patient has tried CPAP and dental devices. The surgery can simply involve removing the tonsils or other tissues from the nose and throat, but it may also involve widening the airway so it doesn't collapse quite so easily. To determine what type of surgery a person might need they would have to undergo a series of tests at a sleep clinic.

Compared to sleep apnea treatments 35 years ago, treatments now are adequate, well research and above all successful in helping people who suffer from the condition. If you think you are suffering from sleep apnea then visit your doctor for a definitive diagnosis and the possibility of trying out a CPAP device.

Stan Tian

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