Sleep Apnea Treatment for Better Health

Sleep apnea interferes with your sleep, making even daily activities more difficult. If left untreated, this condition can lead to serious health problems. There are many treatments for sleep apnea which can improve your sleep and protect your health and wellbeing.

Sleep Apnea Treatment Can Help You:

Sleep Better: Sleep apnea is a condition which causes you to wake up periodically throughout the night, interfering with the quality of your sleep. Treating sleep apnea can mean better sleep for both you and your bed partner.
Feel Better: A better night's sleep can improve your mood, concentration, and overall sense of well-being.
Stay Healthy: Treating sleep apnea can reduce your risk for apnea-related health conditions, including hypertension and heart disease.

The Severity of Your Sleep Apnea Affects Your Treatment Options

How Severe Is Your Sleep Apnea?

During a sleep study, your doctor will identify whether your sleep apnea is mild, moderate, or severe and recommend treatment appropriately.

Can You Commit to Lifestyle Changes?

For some patients, breaking habits can make a serious difference in their symptoms. However, you must be able to commit to these changes to see results.

Sleep Apnea Can Cause Health Problems

If you have sleep apnea, your body does not get enough oxygen while you sleep. Over time, this chronic oxygen deprivation can cause serious complications, such as high blood pressure, heart problems, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and liver problems. The best way to prevent these issues from developing is to treat sleep apnea appropriately as soon as possible.

Getting proper rest is also crucial to mental health. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, depression decreased from 73% to 4% in sleep apnea patients after therapy.

How does sleep apnea treatment work?

A custom-fitted oral appliance is worn while sleeping. It will shift your jaw forward to open the airways for better breathing.

A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine consists of a mask which fits over the nose or the nose and mouth and supplies pressurized air. The air then flows continuously or intermittently into the sleeper's throat, preventing the airway from collapsing.

What Happens During Treatment?

Your treatment will depend on your initial diagnosis. This is the general process:

Sleep Study: You will need to undergo a sleep study to diagnose the severity of your sleep apnea.
Consultation: Your doctor will review the results of your study and recommend the best treatment for you.
Treatment: You will be fitted for your appliance or CPAP machine. You will need to wear your device every night while you sleep to get the benefits of treatment.
Follow-Up: Your doctor will assess your symptoms after at least three months to determine whether you need a different treatment.
Alternatives: If other treatment options are unsuccessful in controlling your symptoms after at least three months, your doctor may recommend surgery.

Good evidence has existed for some time that treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) improves disease-oriented findings, such as disturbed sleep, oxygen desaturation, apneas, and hypopneas.

John W. Tipton, MD

What's the best way to stop my symptoms from returning?

Sleep apnea is a chronic condition, and continuous therapy is essential. While self-care techniques may resolve mild sleep apnea, you will likely need to continue therapy nightly to control your symptoms. Use your oral appliance or CPAP machine every night and make it a priority to sleep at least six to eight hours every night. If you are not seeing results, speak to your doctor about changing tactics.

Effective Treatment Leads to Better Sleep and Improved Health

Sleep apnea treatment ensures you are breathing properly while you sleep. If your sleep apnea treatment is effective, you should notice the results within a few nights. After starting therapy, patients often experience:

More energy during the day
Reduced snoring
Better control of diabetes and hypertension
Reduced cardiovascular risk
Improved concentration and mood

Contact Dr. Rink Today

Sleep apnea is a serious condition which affects both your health and day-to-day well-being. If you suspect you have sleep apnea or have already been diagnosed, the best way to find out what treatment is right for you is to schedule an appointment with Dr. John F. Rink.

Sleep Apnea Treatment