Sleepapneais a commonsleep disorderthat causes frequent breathing pauses while you sleep.
Treating sleep apnea aims to reduce breathing interruptions (called apneas) and improve your sleep.
Sleep apnea typically cannot be cured, but the condition is treatable and manageable.
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Treatment can begin once you receive a sleep apnea diagnosis.
Diagnosing sleep apnea starts with your healthcare provider asking about your symptoms and medical history.
This article covers sleep apnea treatment options, including CPAP therapy, treatment without CPAP, and surgical treatment.
The breathing pauses from sleep apnea cause your brain to respond and briefly wake up to breathe normally again.
This is why you feel fatigued, even when you have slept most of the night.
Untreated sleep apnea can affect your mental andphysical health.
It is also linked tohigh blood pressure, headaches, sore throats, blood vessel problems, andweight gain.
What Is the Connection Between High Blood Pressure and Sleep Apnea?
High blood pressure and sleep apneaoften coexist.
As a result, you will experience fewer apneas during sleep.
Sleep Apnea Treatment Without CPAP
CPAP therapy is considered the most effective therapy for sleep apnea.
Additional problems with CPAP compliance include dry mouth andnasal congestion,claustrophobia,and infections.
If this is true for you, you might consider other treatment options.
Lifestyle Changes
Lifestyle changes might help with milder cases of sleep apnea.
What they do know, however, is that weight loss can alleviate sleep apnea.
Moderate activity includes brisk walking, jogging, using an elliptical machine, biking, and swimming.
Cutting out alcohol or reducing the amount you drink can lead to reduced sleep apnea symptoms.
Whilequitting smokingwont cure sleep apnea, it will reduce the number of apnea events and improve sleep quality.
Studies on people with sleep apnea show that side sleeping can improve breathing and sleep quality and reduce snoring.
It looks similar to a mouthguard.
You may have additional options if you have been diagnosed with CSA.
Your healthcare provider will want you to try other treatments for a few months before considering surgery.
The gear will send an electric current to stimulate the diaphragm helping it to contract as it should.
Both procedures are relatively new and have not been thoroughly researched.
This treatment should be used along with diet and exercise.
Zepbound is the first and only medication approved by the FDA for treating OSA.
Zepbound (tirzepatide) works by reducing body weight, which may lead to an improvement in OSA symptoms.
Summary
Sleep apnea is a severe sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts while you sleep.
People with sleep apnea often snore loudly and feel tired even after sleeping all night.
A sleep specialist can diagnose the condition with an overnight or home sleep study.
There is no cure for sleep apnea, but the condition is treatable.
CPAP is the most common treatment for the condition and treat both mild and severe sleep apnea.
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