Sleep Apnea Cures: Popular Treatments For Both Types Of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea affects many individuals and can be potentially dangerous. There are two types of this sleep disorder; central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea. This latter form is the most common and occurs when the muscles within the throat relax. Central sleep apnea is where the brain isn’t able to send the correct signals to the muscles used for controlling breathing. There aren’t any true sleep apnea cures, but it can be treated to help the person suffering from this disorder to be able to sleep safely.

Natural Remedies

1. Gargle with salt water, this will shrink tonsils and allow more room in the throat for air to pass through.

2. Make sure allergies are under control. This is often a huge factor in the occurrence of mild sleep apnea.

3. Use a humidifier in the sleeping area. Sometimes providing moisture to the air will help.

4. Sleep with the head portion of the bed elevated. By simply raising the head of the bed by a small amount, this will keep the throat muscles from blocking the airway as much.

5. Keep the use of antihistamines, tranquilizers, and alcohol to a minimum. Each of these relaxes muscles even more so than sleep alone, which can aggravate even the mildest form of sleep apnea.

Therapies

Use a CPAP machine for obstructive sleep apnea. It will also work for central sleep apnea. This machine applies continuous positive airway pressure with the help of a simple mask that is placed over the nose. The pressure provided by this machine is greater than the surrounding atmosphere, which keeps the upper airway open and prevents apnea, as well as snoring. Supplemental oxygen will often work well for central sleep apnea.

An adaptive servo-ventilation device monitors normal breathing and stores this data on a computer. The ASV will then use pressure to make sure the breathing remains normal. Some people have found this to be more successful than the CPAP machine, when using it for central sleep apnea.

Surgeries

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, or UPPP, is a procedure where portions of the tissue at the top of the throat and back of the mouth are removed, thus reducing snoring and possibly mild sleep apnea.

A tracheotomy may need to be performed on people who have tried everything else. This is also the most common surgery for life-threatening sleep apnea.

The above information is by no means a list of sleep apnea cures, but they are helpful for many people who need help managing their sleep apnea. Try it and see how it helps.