Sleep Apnea Solutions

Sleep apnea is a condition characterized by the pausing of the breathing process while sleeping. If a person stops breathing for long enough to miss at least one breath and does so repeatedly through the night they have sleep apnea. Although there are more complex kinds of sleep apnea, the most common type is obstructive sleep apnea which is caused by the collapse of the soft tissue surrounding the airway during sleep, thereby obstructing the breathing process. Although mild apnea is common in people suffering from upper respiratory infections and similar conditions; severe, prolonged sleep apnea can result in a number of serious consequences if left untreated.

Sleep Apnea Help

The most common sleep apnea solutions are designed to reduce factors that aggravate and encourage sleep apnea. This includes losing weight, quitting smoking and avoiding alcohol and muscle relaxants. The position in which the person sleeps also plays a role in apnea and offers an easy sleep apnea solution for many people with mild apnea. It is often recommended that the patient sleep at an elevated angle, similar to sleeping in a recliner, as this helps to ease apnea. Similarly, there are a number of specially designed pillows and night shirts that help people sleep on their sides instead of on their backs which also eases sleep apnea.

Sleep Apnea Devices

If these measures are unsuccessful, the most common treatment specifically designed for sleep apnea is the use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device. Originally developed in Australia in 1981 specifically for sleep apnea, the technology has radically improved since and today these devices are fairly common. The user affixes a mask over their nose (or sometimes their whole face, though this is rare) as they sleep and it delivers a constant stream of pressurized air to the user. Today there are a number of different types of CPAP devices that can help most people with sleep apnea.

Another less intrusive method of treatment that is popular in Europe is Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT). This process involves getting a customize mouthpiece that the person wears while sleeping. It works by pushing the lower jaw forward, which in turn helps to open the airway. Although not as common in the United States, OAT has a firmly proven track record of success elsewhere around the world and is considerably less intrusive than a full CPAP machine. 

Sleep Apnea Surgery

If these options do not work, most doctors recommend surgical procedures. The exact surgical procedure differs by patient, depending on where their specific obstructions occur. Surgery is the only option that actually cures apnea and the Stanford Center for Excellence in Sleep Disorders Medicine has a well documented 95 percent cure rate using surgical procedures. The other solutions treat the symptoms, but do not result in a permanent cure for the condition. Therefore if the patient has the resources available for surgery, this is probably the best option, though only the attending doctor can be sure.

There are also numerous alternative treatments available, at least two of which have been successfully tested by medical professionals. A 2005 study in the British Medical Journal showed that playing the Australian didgeridoo musical instrument helped ease apnea by strengthening the muscles in the upper airway. There is also the “Singing for Snorers” program that involves singing to tone to muscles of the upper throat. “Singing for Snorers” is currently under going clinical trials, but the preliminary results seem to indicate that the program has a beneficial effect on sleep apnea.

Alternative Sleep Apnea Solutions

There are also alternative sleep apnea solutions that are not only untested, but possibly quite dangerous. For example, there is a herbal concoction being sold today based on lobelia (orlobella), which is a common wild plant found in much of the world. While the plant is shown to be a respiratory stimulant in very small doses, taking too much reverses the effect. Further, despite stimulating the respiratory system, it has not been shown to help sleep apnea in any way; in fact, the exact opposite is true. In a paper published in the Journal of Physiology in 1995, it was shown that even small doses of lobeline to healthy people actually caused sleep apnea. Although some herbalists may differ, in general most medical professionals say that taking lobelia, especially orally, is generally unsafe and can result in serious problems.