Sleep Apnea – Therapy

Sleep Apnea Therapy: CPAP

CPAP ventilation is the standard sleep apnea therapy for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea. CPAP stands for “continuous positive airway pressure”, in German: “continuous positive airway pressure”. CPAP is usually applied via a nasal mask (sleep apnea mask). The method stabilizes the upper airways, from the nasal entrance to the trachea, by applying light pressure throughout the entire breathing cycle.

A ventilator directs additional room air into the respiratory tract via a tight-fitting mask. The CPAP therapy is mainly used in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). However, new research has shown that this therapy can also be successful in central sleep apnea. The majority of people with sleep apnea who are treated with this method are well-behaved with the therapy procedure. However, some patients find such sleep apnea masks very annoying and refuse treatment (lack of compliance). Women generally have a bigger problem with CPAP than men.

The CPAP procedure significantly improves the quality of sleep. It reduces respiratory distress, snoring, daytime symptoms (e.g., fatigue) and cardiovascular risk. The risk of accidents also drops. Overall, CPAP represents a significant improvement in quality of life.

There are numerous modifications of CPAP ventilation, for exampleBiPAP, The abbreviation stands for engl. “Biphasic positive airway pressure”. BiPAP is a further development of CPAP ventilation. The sleep apnea device operates at two different pressure levels. Breathing in creates a higher pressure, exhaling a lower pressure – this helps to inhale and facilitate exhalation.

Sleep Apnea Therapy: Bite Splints

Some people with sleep apnea help bite rails for the upper and lower jaw. In principle, there are three types of bite bars:

• Tongue retainer (keeps the tongue from falling back into the throat),
• Tongue extensors (shift the tongue forwards and downwards)
• Mandibular Protrusion Splints: They keep the airways open by moving the mandible and tongue slightly forward.

In the last five years, the lower jaw protrusion splints have become widely accepted. Success rates of 50 to 70 percent are reported for mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. However, such protrusion splints are less successful in the fight against sleep apnea than the CPAP procedure. The rail system is individually made in the dental laboratory and adapted to the upper and lower jaws. Bite splints do not bring good results in every sleep apnea patient. They are particularly suitable for persons in whom sleep apnea depends on the sleeping position (usually the supine position), which at a young age are female and not overweight and have a small neck circumference.

Sleep apnea therapy: surgery

Some patients with sleep apnea also use surgical procedures. Anatomical features can be corrected in some cases by means of a sleep apnea operation. Examples include enlarged tonsils or polyps (especially in children), malformations of the jaw and soft palate or a curved nasal septum.

A typical sleep apnea operation is uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), in which the surgeon removes fat and connective tissue in the throat, which obstructs the airways during sleep. The success rate of the procedure is around 50 percent.

Sleep Apnea Therapy: Oxygen

An oxygen treatment is usually combined with other procedures. Oxygen can be delivered via the CPAP mask, for example, when the oxygen level in the blood is not allowed to drop further because of additional heart or lung disease.

Sleep apnea therapy – medication

Although it is the dream of many people with sleep apnea and especially their partners – so far there is no drug with which to prevent snoring or treat sleep apnea effectively.

Sleep Apnea Therapy: Nasal Remedies & Co

There are also aids like plasters or clamps that are applied on or in the nose. Such nasal aids are currently not recommended by experts for sleep apnea therapy. However, you may be able to facilitate ventilation therapy (CPAP / BIPAP).

The general effectiveness from the back in pajamas, sewn tennis balls backpacks, vests or special shoulder pads, which complicate or prevent the supine position, could not be detected.

Sleep apnea therapy: You can do that yourself

overweight

Obesity is a major cause of sleep apnea. Those who have too high a body mass index should reduce their weight as much as possible. Just a few kilos are enough to breathe more regularly at night and to sleep better. People with improved sleep apnea are less tired during the day and feel fitter. However, weight reduction alone can not usually eliminate sleep apnea.

alcohol

Even if the cool beer tastes particularly good in the evening: Two hours before going to bed you should have drunk the last glass. Alcohol causes the musculature – even those of the respiratory tract – to weaken and additionally reduces the normal respiratory stimulus. This increases the likelihood of respiratory arrest. Alcohol can cause respiratory arrest even in those people who otherwise just snore.

drugs

Even medicines, especially sleeping pills and tranquilizers, should be avoided as far as possible in patients with sleep apnea. They dampen respiration and thus promote sleep apnea.

Sleep properly

Sleep doctors generally recommend, inlateral position to sleep. The supine position favors snoring and sleep apnea because the muscles of the palate and throat relax and the tongue falls backwards.

Nose drops can reduce respiratory problems and snoring; however, they should not be used permanently.

Also an improved so-calledsleep hygieneSo, regular sleep patterns and sleeping time, appropriate mattresses and pillows, as well as certain rituals at bedtime, will help you to have a peaceful night’s sleep without having to breathe.

In some people, these measures are enough to improve sleep apnea. However, some patients come to oneSleep apnea therapy not around.