Treatment Options for Sleep Apnea
Weight Loss is one option to help sleep apnea. For some patients, a 10-20% weight loss can reduce or resolve their sleep apnea.
Other non-surgical options:
- Lifestyle changes – avoiding alcohol and sedating medications, sleeping on your side instead of on your back, or pillow changes could help
- Oral / Dental Appliances – Oral appliances are easy to use and very portable
- CPAP machine – CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. It is a machine with a tube and a mask that you wear over your nose or mouth while you are sleeping. It uses air pressure to prevent the collapse of the throat tissues while you are sleeping, to keep your airway open.
In addition to medical treatment, Dr. Scotch specializes in the surgical treatment of Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea with the latest and most advanced techniques to include:
- Radiofrequency ablation palatoplasty (coblation or somnoplasty of the soft palate)
- Nasal septoplasty
- Nasal turbinate reductions
- Nasal polyp removal
- Tongue base reductions
- Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy
- Uvulopalatopharygoplasty (UPPP)
- Genioglossus and hyoid advancement
- Pillar Procedure
- Palate injection therapy
If you are at risk for sleep apnea or find that you are not getting a good night’s sleep, or if you have been told that you gasp for air during the night, you should see your medical doctor for a thorough evaluation. The lack of consistent oxygen flow caused by sleep apnea can worsen other medical conditions, so it is important to receive treatment for your OSA as soon as possible.
