What is Sleep Apnea and How is it Treated

Sleep apnea is a form of sleep disorder in which your breathing is repeatedly just stop and start. If you snore loudly and still feel tired after a full night's sleep, you may suffer from sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea occurs in two general types. Obstructive sleep apnea, which is the most common one occurs when your throat muscles relax and collapse, while central sleep apnea occurs when your brain does not send the right signals to your muscles that control breathing. Some patients may have complex sleep apnea, which is a combination of the 2 main types.

For treatment of mild sleep apnea, some changes in your lifestyle and habits tremendously help your condition. These include: avoiding alcohol and medications that make you sleepy, losing weight, sleeping on your side to keep your throat open by means of nasal spray to keep your nose open while you sleep, and stop smoking.

A mouthpiece or oral appliance can treat mild sleep apnea especially for those who snore loudly.

For more serious cases of sleep apnea in adults is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), the most common treatment. Sleep apnea CPAP machines and other accessories using a mask that fits in your mouth and nose. CPAP machines will gently blow air into your throat. The air will then press on the walls of your airways.