Do you sometimes wake up after a good night’s sleep and still feel tired? Do you snore a lot? These two things, when brought together, often point towards sleep apnea. If you feel like this is something you deal with frequently, read through to the end and decide if you need sleep apnea treatment.

While snoring feels harmless on the surface, it can be a sign of a much more dangerous underlying condition as it prevents the required amount of oxygen from entering your brain. Your breathing repeatedly starts and stops while you’re asleep.

Let us have a look at their symptoms before going further.

SYMPTOMS

The symptoms of sleep apnea can be broken down into two parts.

Part I

Symptoms you may be unaware of, or something that a partner or other people may inform you about.

• Breathing that starts and stops during sleep
• Frequent and loud snoring
• Heavy breathing or gasping for air in your sleep

Part II

Symptoms you may experience yourself:

• Daytime drowsiness and exhaustion
• Problems with learning, absorbing information and concentration
• Slower response time
• Headaches
• Uncomfortable sensations or jerking of the limbs
• Dry mouth
• Reduced libido or sexual dysfunction
• Frequent nighttime urination

Please be advised that although rarer, children can also develop sleep apnea. Children with sleep apnea may be hyperactive, develop bedwetting, see their asthma get worse, and struggle in school to focus.

Remember, if you identify one or more of these symptoms in yourself or a loved one, it is highly recommended to talk to a doctor. We would recommend talking to Ansh Obecure’s metabolism specialists who are supported by a 24-hour emergency department staffed by board-certified and board-eligible emergency medicine physicians for sleep apnea treatment. It is more than likely that our experts will ask you questions to determine risk factors, so let’s quickly go over them.

CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS

Before we closely dive into sleep apnea treatment, we need to determine which one you may have. There are two major types of Sleep Apnea. Both sleep apnea treatments vary widely.

1. OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA

The more prevalent kind of obstructive sleep apnea, which happens when throat muscles relax.

2. CENTRAL SLEEP APNEA

Central sleep apnea develops when your brain fails to properly activate the breathing muscles. It can be brought on by medical disorders that interfere with how your brain regulates your airway and chest muscles.

When a person has both central and obstructive sleep apnea, it is known as complex sleep apnea syndrome, sometimes called treatment-emergent sleep apnea.

Your chance of developing sleep apnea might be increased by your age, family history, lifestyle choices, other medical issues, and some physical characteristics. Adapting a healthy lifestyle can help you reduce your risk. Let us dive into the risks and factors that cause sleep apnea.

WHAT RAISES THE RISK OF OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA?

The causes of sleep apnea are range from age to lifestlyle. Some variables, including poor lifestyle choices, are modifiable. Age, family history, colour, ethnicity, and sex are among more aspects that cannot be altered.

• Age
• Endocrine disorders, or changes in your hormone levels
• Family history and genetics
• Heart or kidney failure
• Large tonsils and a thick neck
• Lifestyle habits
• Obesity
• Sex

Let’s quickly talk about prevention and care before we understand sleep apnea treatments.

Making healthy lifestyle adjustments, such as eating a heart-healthy diet, striving for a healthy weight, stopping smoking, and consuming less alcohol, may help you avoid developing obstructive sleep apnea. Along with encouraging you to sleep on your side and develop good sleeping habits like obtaining the necessary amount of sleep, your healthcare professional at Ansh Obecure may also encourage you to do so.

SLEEP APNEA TREATMENTS

There are many sleep apnea treatment options available to you when you come to us. Your doctor may suggest making lifelong, heart-healthy lifestyle adjustments to you if a sleep study reveals that you have sleep apnea. In order to keep your airways open while you sleep, you could additionally require breathing, oral, or surgical equipment.

Let’s quickly go through the sleep apnea treatments.

MODIFICATIONS TO A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

You might need to make lifetime healthy lifestyle adjustments in order to help treat your sleep apnea. Obesity is one of the biggest factors causing sleep apnea, next to age. In fact, Sleep apnea occurs in about 3 percent of normal weight individuals but affects over 20 percent of obese people. This means getting rid of the root cause, or at least bringing it down enough that it does not become too big of a threat.

These include of engaging in regular physical activity, preserving sound sleep patterns and a healthy weight, abstaining from alcohol, and giving up smoking. Additionally, your doctor could advise you to sleep on your side rather than your back. As you sleep, this keeps your airway open.

BREATHING DEVICES

The most popular form of treatment for sleep apnea is a breathing apparatus like a CPAP machine. A CPAP machine keeps your airway open by maintaining continuous air pressure in your throat.

Breathing apparatuses function best when paired with a healthy lifestyle modification. CPAP side effects might include the following:

• Congestion
• Wet eyes
• Dry Mouth
• Nosebleeds
• Clogged nose

Note: Stop using your CPAP machine and call your doctor if you feel bloated or uncomfortable in your stomach.

You could require a different kind of breathing apparatus, such as an auto-adjusting positive airway pressure (APAP) machine or a bilevel positive airway pressure (BPAP) machine, depending on the type of sleep apnea you have.

 

ORAL DEVICES

In addition to breathing devices, which frequently prove to be very useful, oral appliances and devices are often worn in or around the mouth while you sleep. To open the upper airway while you sleep, there are two main types of oral devices as well as some hybrid gadgets combine traits from the two categories:

• Mandibular Repositioning Mouthpieces

These are implements that maintain the jaw in a posture that prevents it from obstructing the upper airway while covering the upper and lower teeth.

• Tongue Retaining Devices

In order to avoid the tongue from obstructing the upper airway, tongue retention devices are mouthpieces that maintain the tongue in a forward posture.

You may also be given certain devices or exercises to do while you are awake. This is to help train the muscles to stay in a certain position and the effect can last into the night. They are not always necessary, and your doctor will definitely let you know if they are needed.

Furthermore, if you have sleep apnea and do not want to use or cannot tolerate a CPAP machine, your doctor at Ansh Obecure may prescribe an oral device. They would advise you to seek out a dentist who can create an appliance especially for you, ensure that it is cosy, and show you how to utilise it for the greatest outcomes.

There are many ways to look after all these devices. Please pay the utmost attention when our doctor tells you how they are used. Do not hesitate to ask them to explain it better or clear out any of the doubts, questions or issues you may have. Always make sure you keep it clean nd don’t let bacteria fester in the devices. While the possibility of infection is minimal, following directions can help prevent any medical issues with great ease.

THERAPY

Orofacial therapy, which involves exercises for your mouth and facial muscles, can help alleviate sleep apnea in both children and adults. The muscles that regulate your lips, tongue, upper airway, and face are strengthened by this therapy, which also aids in improving the posture of your tongue.

SURGERY

While we understand that no one wants to hear it, one of the best sleep apnea treatments in Ahmedabad is achieved using surgical techniques. In fact, if various therapies do not help you, surgery could be necessary. Possible surgical techniques include:

• Adenotonsillectomy

Tonsils and adenoids are removed during an

•  Implant surgery

This is a surgery to implant a device that tracks your breathing patterns and controls some of the muscles that open your airways while you’re sleeping.

• Soft tissue removal

You could also undergo a surgery to make your upper airway larger by removing some of the soft tissue in your mouth and throat.

• Maxillary or jaw advancement surgery

The aim of this surgery is to move your upper jaw (maxilla) and lower jaw (mandible) forward, which helps make your upper airway bigger.

If you have sleep apnea, you must schedule routine checkups with us to ensure that your therapy is effective and to see whether you are experiencing any side effects. If you significantly gain or lose weight, you might need to repeat your sleep study in order to track your symptoms while you adhere to your treatment plan. Other medical disorders that contributed to your sleep apnea or might make it worse may also require treatment.

Many studies demonstrate that treating sleep apnea usage lowers blood pressure and enhances daytime wakefulness. It also claim higher quality of life. According to several observational studies, patients who get treated for sleep apnea had a decreased risk of stroke and heart attack as well as lower blood sugar levels than those who do not use the device.

Visit Ansh Obecure if you or your spouse have observed any sleep apnea symptoms. Our expert might order a sleep apnea test, which employs technology to track your oxygen levels and breathing throughout sleep. Knowing the results will help you sleep better, whatever the came may be.