Obstructive sleep apnea is a health disorder that reduces the quality of your sleep by limiting oxygen intake. When you have sleep apnea, the tissues surrounding your throat and airways collapse, reducing the amount of oxygen that can get to and from your lungs while you are sleeping. Fortunately, Austin oral appliance therapy helps to treat sleep apnea, enabling you to have quality sleep.
Here are ways to treat sleep apnea;
1. CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure)
The CPAP machine gently maintains your airway open all night long so you can breathe by using a continuous stream of air. You use a mask with a hose connected to a machine maintained at your bedside as you sleep. Your masks and equipment will depend on your treatment and comfort requirements. The majority of patients are advised to use CPAP, which is the primary therapy for sleep apnea.
2. Oral appliance therapy
An oral appliance is a piece of equipment that covers your teeth while you sleep in your mouth. It could look similar to an orthodontic retainer or a mouthguard for sports. By keeping the tongue in place or moving your jaw forward, the device keeps your airway open while you sleep and allows you to breathe. Some individuals prefer using an oral appliance while they sleep rather than a CPAP machine. After being given a sleep apnea diagnosis, a dentist with training in dental sleep medicine can fit you with an oral device. Patients with mild to severe apnea who cannot tolerate CPAP or want to use an oral appliance instead of a CPAP device are advised to use oral appliance treatment.
3. Positional therapy
Positional therapy is a behavioral approach to treating positional sleep apnea. Some people only have sleep apnea while they are lying on their backs. Their breathing returns to normal when they lie on their side to sleep. Wearing a specific device around your waist or back may be necessary during positional treatment. You continue to sleep on your side as a result. A little gadget worn on the back of the neck is an additional choice. It begins to vibrate when you begin to sleep on your back softly. The vibration prompts your body to shift postures without waking you up. Positional therapy can be applied independently or in conjunction with other sleep apnea therapies.
4. Lifestyle changes
You may improve your sleep apnea symptoms and lessen snoring by making various lifestyle adjustments. Changes in behavior, such as giving up smoking or consuming less alcohol, may lessen sleep apnea symptoms. Alcohol relaxes the muscles in your throat, leading to snoring or a collapsed airway. If you suffer from allergies, using a decongestant before bed may help you breathe more easily.
Your doctor may advise cognitive behavioral therapy if you have trouble adhering to your treatment plan or if you still have trouble sleeping despite receiving treatment. Your thoughts and habits that keep you from obtaining quality sleep or sticking to your therapy will be helped by a behavioral sleep expert.
If you have sleep apnea, you may feel exhausted or unrefreshed when you wake up, even if you have had a full night of sleep. Therefore, you need to seek the right treatment to improve your sleep quality. Call Sleep Cycle Center to book your appointment for sleep apnea treatment.
