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FAQ
- Is there a cure for sleep apnea?
Obstructive sleep apnea , in which the upper airway closes during sleep, is the most common disorder generally referred to as "sleep apnea". Typically, OSA is caused by some combination of obesity, nasal obstruction, and crowded tissues in the throat. Obesity reduces the size and increases the floppiness of the throat, predisposing to obstruction. Breathing in through a tight nasal airway, such as from allergies or septal deviation, increases the suction pressure generated in the throat on inspiration, thus pulling the throat closed. Crowded tissues in the throat, such as from large tonsils, tongue, or uvula, further predisposes to upper airway collapse during sleep. In every individual, differing combinations of these factors predisposes to the OSA, so the treatment is not the same for everyone. For moderate to severe sleep apnea, nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the therapy of choice, as it is the safest and most reliably effective therapy for these cases which are associated with increased risks of hypertension and stroke. For positional cases, a mechanical aid such as a t-shirt with tennis balls sewn into the back to prevent sleeping supine may be all that is needed. In milder but nonpositional cases, various options such as upper airway surgery, jaw-advancing dental devices, and CPAP may all be primary considerations. Long term, weight loss and medical measures to treat any nasal congestion should be implemented. Therefore, OSA may be successfully treated and sometimes cured when the predisposing factors are reversed.
Central sleep apnea, in which breathing stops due to absent respiratory effort, is less common. Central sleep apnea may reflect a heterogeneous group of problems such as heart failure, stroke, neuromuscular disease, and autonomic neuropathy (dysfunction of the part of the nervous system that effects heart rate, blood pressure, gastrointestinal function, respiratory function, sweating, etc.). Thus there is no one cause of CSA. A new mode of positive airway pressure therapy called Adaptive Servo Ventilation, available at Cardinal Sleep, has shown great effectiveness in CSA. In this mode, the difference between the applied pressure during inspiration and expiration, i.e. the ventilatory assist, is automatically adjusted to be greater during small breaths and smaller during large breaths, thus stabilizing the respiratory pattern. Other therapies, such as CPAP, conventional Bipap, oxygen, and side sleeping generally have lesser degrees of effectiveness.
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