There are a variety of treatments for sleep apnea, depending on the cause and severity of symptoms.  Interrupted breathing, and brief pauses in breathing with oxygen desaturation to the vital organs is the essential definition of sleep apnea.   It can represent a serious medical condition with symptoms of shortness of breath, extreme fatigue, daytime sleepiness, mood changes and irritability, and even more serious conditions, including high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.  If you feel you are suffering from this disorder you should seek medical attention immediately.

When a person is suffering from sleep apnea, the upper airways become obstructed. They can be blocked by tissues, large tonsils, or a large tongue. The most common factor behind sleep apnea is the structure of jaw and airway.  Weight loss, surgery, dental appliances, and breathing assistance devices are various ways to treat sleep apnea. The use of a breathing assistance device is the most popular and most effective treatment of sleep apnea. These breathing assistance devices help in increasing the air pressure in the airways, which prevents the airways from collapsing. You have to wear this device in the form of a mask that has a small air blower connected through a pipe to the nose, and you must wear this mask when you go to sleep. There is also another type of device which will be useful for those whose tongue is the main source of obstruction. This device is a suction cup that is used to assist the teeth and tongue from closing the airway.

There are different types of surgeries available as treatment for sleep apnea. With surgery, the uvula, the dangling flesh at the back of your mouth, is eliminated and soft palate and pharynx are made tighter. There are also nasal surgeries which are used to improve sleep apnea. There are several jaw surgeries that can treat sleep apnea as they can help in reducing airway blockages.

It is advisable that you seek professional treatment if you are suffering from sleep apnea. There are also several ways in which you can help yourself, including losing weight, smoking cessation, and cutting back the use of alcohol, which also contributes to sleep apnea.  If you maintain a healthy lifestyle,  you can make living with “sleep apnea” easier.