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Posted on 10/20/2019 by Dr. Michael Allard |
 Sleep apnea is a condition characterized by a sudden stop and start to someone's breathing during their sleep. The person's sleep apnea can be of two types; central sleep apnea (CSA) that's caused by a signaling problem from the brain and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) which is as a result of a blocked airway. As such, someone can stop breathing for a couple of moments until an airway is opened or a signal is received. If left untreated, this condition can cause some other life threatening conditions and severely impact someone's quality of life. These conditions will often include depression, heart disease and leave someone feeling very tired thus drowsiness which can cause accidents when driving or operating heavy machinery. The good news is that there are several treatment options for sleep apnea. They include: Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)If someone suffers from severe or moderate sleep apnea, it might be a good idea to have them on a machine that delivers air via a mask as they sleep. This machine creates an environment of slightly higher pressure than the air surrounding it, thereby keeping the passage ways open to let the air in and also prevent snoring.Jaw RepositioningThis is a surgical procedure where a patient's jaw is moved slightly forward from the other facial bones to create space behind the soft palate and tongue. By creating this space, obstruction is therefore less likely and also it takes care of the snoring problem.Tissue ShrinkageThis is yet another treatment option where we use radiofrequency ablation to shrink the tissue at the back of the mouth and throat. Although this procedure doesn't work for the more intense levels of sleep apnea, it is a good option with a lot less surgical risk.Sleep apnea doesn't have to be a condition you battle with every day. We have technologies to assist you deal with the issue head on so that you can have better sleep and an even better quality of life. |
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