Non-Surgical Remedies
A person who snores must be monitored for breathing irregularity. When there are long pauses between snores, it indicates that the person is not getting oxygen. The brain sends signals to alert him that oxygen levels in the bloodstream are dangerously low. On cue, the person wakes up, gasping for air.
Usually, in most cases, sleep apnea sufferers have large tonsils, and tongues that block the air passages during sleep. In other instances, the throat muscles collapse and prevent the flow of air to the lungs from the nose and mouth.
To help him cope with the Obstructive Sleep Apnea or OSA, the doctor recommends the use of a device, the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure or CPAP and Bi-PAP machines. These devices provide measured amount of air that prevents the collapse of the throat tissues and muscles during sleep.
Opting for Surgery
There are several remedies for sleep apnea, including surgeries. For sleep apnea sufferers, surgery is the last result if they want to ease the condition, and prevent dire consequences. Surgeries for sleep apnea will vary according to the extent of the condition.
In cases of OSA, the airways become blocked during sleep. This causes breathing cessation for a minute, and even longer. The surgery for this situation will involve the opening of the airway by reconstructing the soft tissues of the mouth and the bony parts of the throat.
One of the surgeries for sleep apnea is uvulopalatopharyngoplasty or UPPP. The surgery removes the tonsils and adenoids and part of the soft palate of the mouth. This procedure was rated in 1996 as 40.7% effective by the American Sleep Disorders Association. The new laser procedure still lacks substantial feedback to confirm its effectiveness.
Surgeries for sleep apnea of serious nature include tracheotomy, laser midline glossectomy, lingualplasty, and maxillmonadibular osteotomy, sagittal mandibular osteotomy, and genioglossal advancement with hyoid myotomy and suspension.
In lingualplasty, part of the tongue is removed. In tracheotomy, a hole is made in the throat. This hole is unplugged during sleep and plugged during waking hours. The hole in the throat is always be disinfected regularly to prevent infections.
New Surgical Procedures
There are two new procedures adding up to the list of surgeries for sleep apnea. Radio frequency tissue ablation or RFTA or Somnoplasty shrinks the size of the tongue or palate. However, the patient must undergo several sessions before the desired effect is achieved.
Another new procedure is the tongue suspension, which employs the insertion of a small screw into the lower jaw bone. The procedure will prevent the tongue from blocking the air ways to the lungs. Both procedures have been approved by the FDA.
Should You Go for Surgeries for Sleep Apnea?
Depending on the severity of the condition, it is advised to go for surgery which must be done by an experienced surgeon. The downside though, you will have to undergo several surgeries. For sleep apnea sufferers, they face the dilemma – will it be worth all the trouble and the pain?
Before you decide on a surgery, consider the options. If sleep apnea is left untreated, it may lead to serious conditions; however, some sleep apnea cases have gone from bad to worse with surgical applications.
Knowing the risks involved and the state of your general physical will help you decide if you should go for surgery, or use the devices to alleviate sleep apnea. Discuss the matter with your doctor, and seek other opinions as well.