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Snoring and sleep apnea
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Frequently asked questions - Snoring and sleep apnea
General
How do I know I have sleep apnea?
It is likely you will start your investigation in a sleep lab unit. There they monitor and observe scientifically your sleep, the deepness and flow of your sleep, as well as your blood oxygen saturation and blood pressure.
What is a CPAP?
It is often your start to treatment! CPAP means Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. The CPAP machine applies a constant low positive air pressure to the upper airway in an attempt to keep it open. It is a plastic mask, worn over the nose and mouth, and strapped onto the head at bedtime and worn during sleep. It is connected to a machine with an air hose. The CPAP pushes the airway open, allowing normal inhalation and exhalation. Up till now the CPAP Mask is considered the gold standard of conservative treatment The device is effective in 85% of cases, and asks from the patient discipline, some nightly adjustments, noises and further physical and psychological acceptances. Despite it’s effectiveness in most patients, research indicates that there is only 46% compliance after the first 3 months of treatment. 37% of those still using the CPAP soon abandon it completely. (Journal of Respiratory Therapy).
Thus, in our view, the CPAP gives you some time to relax and slowly consider all your further surgical options.
Thus, in our view, the CPAP gives you some time to relax and slowly consider all your further surgical options.
Are there other non surgical solutions?
DENTAL DEVICES
Apart from the CPAP device, there are a number of dental devices, which all have in common the fact that they position the lower jaw forward. This positions the tongue forward and often helps to prevent snoring and, possibly, SOA. Evaluation and re-evaluation over time are certainly advisable with those devices. They hardly ever work 100% properly. The likelihood is, however, that you will seek further final advice and solutions at the end.
Apart from the CPAP device, there are a number of dental devices, which all have in common the fact that they position the lower jaw forward. This positions the tongue forward and often helps to prevent snoring and, possibly, SOA. Evaluation and re-evaluation over time are certainly advisable with those devices. They hardly ever work 100% properly. The likelihood is, however, that you will seek further final advice and solutions at the end.
Are there other surgical treatments?
ENT SURGERY
In the past ENT surgeons performed uvuloplasties in the back of the mouth. The aim was to shorten the soft (tissue) structures there. Those surgeries are painful and do not cure the OSA as they should. Furthermore, nothing happens to the tonus of the fine muscles in the area. Moreover the tongue position remains equal.
In the past ENT surgeons performed uvuloplasties in the back of the mouth. The aim was to shorten the soft (tissue) structures there. Those surgeries are painful and do not cure the OSA as they should. Furthermore, nothing happens to the tonus of the fine muscles in the area. Moreover the tongue position remains equal.