Obstructive Sleep Apnea – Symptoms and Treatments

Obstructive sleep apnea is a grave sleeping disorder as it leads to stopped breathing repeatedly in sleep. There are multiple sleep apnea types and the most common one is the OSA or obstructive sleep apnea. It occurs when the throat muscle relaxes and blocks in the sleep. Snoring is one of the most prominent signs of OSA.

There are sleep apnea treatment options available. One option is a device that uses a positive pressure for keeping the airway open in sleep. Another alternative is a mouthpiece to the push the lower jaw forward in sleep. In some of the cases, you may also need a surgery.

Symptoms

• Drowsiness and sleepiness in daytime

• Loud snoring

• Periods of stopped breathing

• Awaking abruptly by choking or gasping

• Sore throat and dry mouth

• Morning headache

• Lack of concentration in day time

• Mood changes, irritability and depression

• High blood pressure

• Decreased libido

• Nighttime sweating

Educating a Patient along with Lifestyle Changes

Weight Loss

For OSA in many cases obesity or excess weight is one of the primary reasons. Losing weight can help is reducing the OSA severity. When the body weight is low it will decrease the tongue fat deposits, in the throat back that restrict the air passage. Losing weight also helps in reducing the abdominal girth that impacts the lung capacity.

Weight loss can help in controlling the OSA symptoms and make the cardiovascular health better along with the life quality. If you consider the benefits – it is like losing weight from 10 to 15% in obese male helps in reducing OSA up to 50%.

Exercise

Exercise has far-reaching positive effects on health, and studies have shown that making time to be physically active every day can help curtail OSA9 (9). While exercise is often thought of as a means to weight loss, research has showed that exercise can put long-lasting advances in OSA severity.

Doing exercises or being involved in physical activities help in achieving so many positive health effects. Take out time for exercise everyday will help reduce OSA symptoms. Though weight loss

Keeping Alcohol and Sedatives to a Minimum

The tissues near the airway slacken as a result of alcohol and sedative drugs, increasing the risk of airway collapse and OSA10. Because of its effects on sleep cycles, alcohol can result in fragmented and poor-quality sleep. As a result, patients with OSA are often advised to reduce or eliminate their use of alcohol and sedatives, especially in the hours leading up to bedtime.

Cigarettes should be avoided.

In comparison to former smokers and people who have never smoked, active smokers have a higher risk of obstructive sleep apnea11. According to this study, stopping smoking or never beginning to smoke in the first place will aid in the prevention and/or treatment of OSA. Cigarette smoking has also been linked to a more serious form12 of OSA and enhanced daytime sleepiness, according to one major report.

Sleeping on your back is not recommended.

Sleeping on your back increases your chances of developing sleep apnea. Gravity pulls the tongue and other tissues down and into the airway in this location, increasing the likelihood of breathing problems. In certain patients, changing their sleeping posture can help avoid airway constriction and can be used in combination with other forms of sleep apnea treatment at TMJ & Sleep Therapy Center of Oklahoma City.

**Disclaimer: This content is not a professional dental or medical advice and does not imply a relationship between patient and care provider or the doctors.