Medical interventions for sleep apnea range from prescription drugs to surgery to dental devices. The gold standard medical treatment for sleep apnea is the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device, which keeps air moving into either the mouth, nose, or both to prevent the airway from closing.
Other medical devices include specialized pillows, Radiofrequency Ablation, and devices such as the lingual restraint and Mandibular Advancement Splints.
In the event that these approaches do not work, surgery for sleep apnea may be considered to remove excess tissue or change the structure of the throat.
Type of intervention is determined based on severity of the condition.
Treatments include:- Sleep Apnea and Surgery
- Sleep Apnea and Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP)
- Sleep Apnea and Laser-assisted Uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP)
- Sleep Apnea and Radiofrequency Ablation
- Sleep Apnea and Tracheostomy
- Sleep Apnea and Nasal Surgery
- Sleep Apnea and Modafinil
- Sleep Apnea and Omeprazole
- Sleep Apnea and Continuous Positive Airflow Pressure (CPAP) Devices
- Sleep Apnea and Dental and Orthodontic Devices
- Sleep Apnea and Pillar Palatal Implants
- Talking to Your Doctor About Sleep Apnea
Treatments
Effect of Surgery on Sleep Apnea
If problems are identified that may be contributing to sleep apnea, and if the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment fails, it may be beneficial to have surgery. These may...
Read more about Sleep Apnea and Surgery.
Effect of Modafinil on Sleep Apnea
Modafinil is a stimulant that has been used to reduce sleepiness in people with daytime sleepiness. Modafinil stimulates the brain in adults to increase alertness as well as the rate of...
Read more about Sleep Apnea and Modafinil.
Effect of Omeprazole on Sleep Apnea
Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor medication that has been used to reduce the number of apnea attacks. Omeprazole prevents symptoms and damage to the gastrointestinal tract caused by stomach acid...
Read more about Sleep Apnea and Omeprazole.
Effect of Continuous Positive Airflow Pressure (CPAP) Devices on Sleep Apnea
CPAP devices are very effective, and are the gold standard for treating sleep apnea. The biggest obstacles are cost, compliance, and correct fit and usage. When considering using a CPAP, it is...
Read more about Sleep Apnea and Continuous Positive Airflow Pressure (CPAP) Devices.
Effect of Dental and Orthodontic Devices on Sleep Apnea
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, dental devices have shown better long-term control of sleep apnea when compared to uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), which is the standard...
Read more about Sleep Apnea and Dental and Orthodontic Devices.
Effect of Pillar Palatal Implants on Sleep Apnea
This procedure allows stiffening of the palate by implanting permanent pieces of silastic, a silicone elastomer. This procedure may be more effective for treating snoring than sleep apnea. If you have...
Read more about Sleep Apnea and Pillar Palatal Implants.
References
American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery website. Available at: http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/snoring.cfm . Accessed September 17, 2008.
Cecil R, Goldman L, Benett JC. Cecil Textbook of Medicine. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders Company; 2000.
NINDS sleep apnea information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website. Available at: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/sleepapnea/sleepapnea.htm . Updated June 2008. Accessed September 17, 2008.
Obstructive sleep apnea. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php . Updated September 2008. Accessed September 17, 2008.
What is sleep apnea? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.n... . Updated February 2008. Accessed September 17, 2008.
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