Sleep Apnea Treatment and cure Options

Proper diagnosis can help you get the suitable treatment, based on your condition for Sleep Apnea.

Sleep Apnea and Sleep Apnea Treatment Remedie, Cures Options

Let us have a look at the range of treatment options available for Sleep Apnea.

Non-invasive treatment methods:

CPAP therapy- Control positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is the most commonly used treatment options for sleep problems such as Sleep Apnea. The CPAP machine keeps your throat from collapsing, due to lack of air for breathing. This is done by gently blowing pressurized air through your airway.

Oral devices- Certain oral/dental devices are also adopted as treatment methods for Sleep Apnea. Mandibular advancement device (MAD) and tongue retaining device are some of the options. MAD shifts the lower jaw to front, making it easier to breathe by opening the airway. A tongue retaining device does the same, by moving the tongue forward as you sleep.

Invasive treatment methods:

Surgery- Surgery is required only in cases where extra tissues in your throat or nose block the airway. Enlarged tonsils, and deviated septum are few of the conditions that would require surgery as a treatment option for curing Sleep Apnea.

The methods for surgeries differs, depending on the place of origin of Sleep Apnea and the condition of it among people. Nasal surgery, Mandibular Advancement surgery, and UP3 are some of the types of surgeries performed to cure Sleep Apnea.

Self-help treatment methods and lifestyle changes:

These include lifestyle adaptations that can reduce chances of apnea episodes during sleep.

Say no to alcohol- Alcohol and a few other medicines like tranquilizers, sedatives or sleeping pills may relax throat muscles, thereby - making it difficult to breathe.

Avoid smoking- Smoking can cause inflammation and fluid retention in the throat and upper airway, which can contribute to Sleep Apnea. Quitting this habit will help in eliminating this condition, and providing relief to an extent.

Maintain a proper sleep schedule- Having a proper sleep schedule, and getting a complete sleep will help in lowering the episodes of Sleep Apnea.

Weight loss- Losing weight can have help in reducing the episodes of Sleep Apnea in mild to moderate cases. A 10% drop in weight can work in the favour of the patient, in most cases. Weight loss opens the throat and the upper airway, to let you breathe more easily.

Regular exercise- Exercising regularly will not only help you lose weight, but also improve your quality and duration of sleep. Resistance training and aerobic exercise can reduce the symptoms of Sleep Apnea. Yoga can also help in strengthening muscles in the airway, resulting in improved breathing.

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Sleep Revitalizes your Mind, Body, & Heart

The body goes under many transformations, while it is in the state of rest during sleep. There are many essential functions that take place in the body such as tissue repair, memory and energy restoration, release of essential hormones, muscle relaxation, and others. While you are asleep, the brain releases indispensable hormones that promote tissue growth. This process helps your body rejuvenate from the daily hustle bustle. Moreover, tissue growth aids in the recovery from wounds or cuts. Sunita Kumar, Co-Director, Centre for Sleep Disorders, Loyola University Medical Centre, aptly remarks that during sleep the body produces more white blood cells, to fight countless bacteria and viruses¹. The heart rate also registers a dip during sleep, which according to Ms. Kumar, strengthens the heart as it is at rest with lowered activity. Moreover, a good night’s sleep also reduces the chances of getting afflicted with heart diseases.

Good Sleep = Sharp Memory

Sleep is a time, when becomes sharp and strong. Sleep quantity and quality play a fundamental role in determining what one remembers and what one doesnt. Therefore, development of long-term memory (LTM) from short-term memory (STM) happens during sleep. Scientific researches state that the brain follows a different mechanism for storing memories through the hippocampus and neo-cortex areas. Hippocampus helps you to remember your life experiences (childhood memories), while the neo-cortex is responsible for remembering the concepts you learn (name of a color). Communications and sync between the two, helps in learning new data and updating old ones.

Sleep Steers Hormonal Hunger

Sleep not only affects your energy levels and mental functions, but also regulates your body weight. Improper sleep is related to the increasing cases of obesity, worldwide². Many hormones which regulate the feeling of hunger (ghrelin) and signal the feeling of being full (leptin), are all influenced by the quality of your sleep. Leptin: This is also known as satiety hormone, which is produced by the fat cells of the body. It prevents overeating by sending signals to the brain that the body does not require more food, as there is enough to fuel the body. Ghrelin: This hunger hormone is produced in the gastrointestinal tract, which signifies the body that there is need for food. This hormone rises in the body, when you feel hungry and decreases when you have consumed some food. Studies show that people who have disrupted patterns of sleep - have larger appetite, because of higher ghrelin secretion and lowered secretion of leptin. This imbalance in the secretion of these hormones is a result of improper sleep patterns³.

Now that we have talked about why sleep is essential, in the next section - we will be discussing in detail some of the significant parameters, that define good or bad sleep.