by Douglas Kidder
You may be wondering how doctors choose the best therapy from the plethora of options available for sleep apnea treatment. First of all, therapies differ depending on individual patient requirements. In fact, the choice depends on three factors:
- How severe is the condition?
- Site of obstruction in the upper respiratory tract
- Cause behind the onset of the condition
Before the various therapy alternatives are discussed more in detail, it might be a wise decision to know a bit more about this disabling sleep disorder, the early signs and the primary triggers, etc. This knowledge can be helpful in early identification of the disorder for ensuring early diagnosis and treatment.
What triggers the onset?
Snoring when left untreated worsens into sleep apnea, marked by narrowed airways causing major breathing distress. Incidentally, snoring is inevitable fallout of obesity. One could easily conclude that obesity is the primary trigger for this illness.
Though obesity starts the chain of events that follow rapidly from the time of onset, gaining extra weight is part of the course of the ailment. Rapid and irrational weight gain is one of the most identifying sleep apnea symptoms. The link between sleep apnea and weight runs deeper. Weight gain is not only a symptom but also one of the important consequences of the ailment.
How does one gain weight? Major sleep deprivation as well as hormonal imbalance between two appetite-related hormones called Grehlin and Leptin cause irrational hunger and results in abnormal weight increase. Both situations are effects of the disorder.
Apart from obesity, snoring is mainly caused by nasal blockage arising out of deviated septum. This is a condition where the thin cartilage dividing the nasal cavity is tilted more on one side, making one nostril narrower than the other. Breathing obstruction caused by such deviation results in snoring. Deviated nasal septum and sleep apnea happens to be one of the most common health conditions that push patients to seek medical intervention.
No diagnosis or wrong diagnosis
This ailment, though common, usually remains undiagnosed because most of the features show up during sleep. Additionally, there are also high chances of the condition being misdiagnosed. This happens since some features of this illness are also present in other sleep disorders. For example, excessive daytime sleepiness could mean the onset of <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/hypersomnia-why-not-to-ignore-over-sleepiness-during-the-day">hypersomnia</a> and it is also one of the <a href="http://apneatreatment.livejournal.com/717.html">narcolepsy symptoms</a> as well.
There are two ways such diagnostic confusion and misdiagnosis can be avoided. First is to get a medical confirmation by way of a sleep apnea test. The other way is to study characteristic features of other sleep disorders.
For example, if it is narcolepsy, the patient would sleep for inordinately long hours and experience sudden daytime sleep attacks. This feature is absent in all other sleep disorders.
Cure options for hypersomnolence, a disorder that is idiopathic in nature with no known cause for the onset involves providing symptomatic relief only. Sleep apnea treatment, on the other hand involves using devices, changing sleeping position or even surgery for managing severe conditions. Restoring normal breathing is the primary aim of therapy.
Severity decides the mode of therapy
For mild to moderate conditions:
- Using CPAP machines for restoration of normal breathing
- Weight loss by diet control, exercises and special exercises for toning and strengthening the breathing muscles
- Changing sleeping position
- Raising pillow height
- Quitting alcohol
Surgery is the chosen therapy for managing severe cases.
If you want more information about <a href="http://apneatreatmentguide.com/sleep-apnea-symptoms/">sleep apnea symptoms</a>, then be sure to check Douglas Kidder's site and get all the information you need about <a href="http://apneasymptoms.wordpress.com/2011/11/10/sleep-apnea-treatment-which-is-the-best-option-for-you/">sleep apnea treatment</a>.
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New Unique Article!
Title: Sleep Apnea Treatment: What Are Your Options?
Author: Douglas Kidder
Email: sleepmedia30@gmail.com
Keywords: sleep apnea symptoms,sleep apnea treatment,sleep apnea,sleep disorder,sleeping disorders,sleep conditions,sleep snoring,diseases and conditions,diseases and disorders,health conditions,health and disability,disorders,general health,health,health and fitness
Word Count: 588
Category: Health & Fitness
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