Sleep apnoea is a condition that can negatively affect the quality of a person’s life. With more people smoking and vaping than ever before, it’s unfortunately become a very common condition. People who are obese are also likely to develop it. And if you have been following the news, you will know that obesity is through the roof, too.
This post hopes to explore this topic, homing in on sleep apnoea and its negative health impacts and how it affects people’s lives. By the end of this post, you should hopefully be an expert in the topic.Forms of Treatment
If you have sleep apnoea, you need to do everything you can to pursue professional support. You need a medical expert’s intervention. Living with sleep apnoea can be very difficult. So enlisting a professional’s support means you will be able to minimize the damage that’s caused to your life. If you are interested in obstructive sleep apnea treatment, you’ll be pleased to know that there are many options. In order to find out what they are though, you need to speak to a doctor that’s experienced in treating the condition.
Finding such a doctor should not be difficult to do, thanks to the prevalence of sleep apnoea in society today. However, you do still need to exercise caution when selecting a clinic. It’s important to choose the best one that you can. A good way to determine a clinic’s suitability is to read its reviews. Also take a look at its star rating, as that can tell you a lot about it, too.
Cost is also something that you need to think about. A lot of people underestimate the cost of sleep apnoea treatment. If you have health insurance, the cost is not something you need to worry that much about, though. If you are insured, your healthcare will be paid for by your insurer. However, if you are uninsured, you will have to pay for it yourself. Some sleep apnoea clinics will allow you to break down the cost of your treatment into more affordable monthly installments if you do not have the money to pay for it upfront. You may want to consider taking out a loan if you are unable to pay for your healthcare using your insurer’s money. Alternatively, you could borrow money from a loved one if you are able to.
What Treatments Are There?
Knowing what options are available to people diagnosed with sleep apnoea can make it a lot easier for you to know what to ask for when you go to seek treatment. Some of the most popular treatment options are:
Positive airway pressure
This form of treatment involves a machine delivering air pressure through a nosepiece. Sometimes the air is delivered through a mask that covers your nose and mouth, too. It reduces the amount of times you stop breathing at night. This, in turn, makes it easier for you to get a better night’s rest.
Oral devices
The use of oral appliances is an alternative for people with mild to moderate sleep apnoea. They can also be used for people who aren’t able to use the aforementioned positive airway pressure treatment. These devices keep the throat open, which keeps the airway open, helping to relieve snoring and the other symptoms of sleep apnoea.
Upper airway stimulation
Upper airway stimulation is a new form of treatment that’s quickly becoming very popular. An impulse generator is implanted under the skin of the chest. When a patient inhales, the device stimulates the nerve that controls the movement of the tongue. This keeps it forward and prevents it from blocking the throat.
Surgical tissue removal
Surgery is often a last resort. However, it can be effective. It involves removing tissue from the back of the mouth and the top of the throat. Sometimes, doctors recommend to remove the tonsils. Surgeons perform this type of surgery in a hospital, and patients must receive a general anesthetic to be put to sleep.
Surgical opening in the neck
Surgical neck opening is a last resort also, only used in the most serious cases when a person’s sleep apnoea is getting to the point of threatening their life. Doctors sometimes recommend jaw surgery to remove areas of the jaw, opening up the mouth and the space around the back of the tongue.
Prompt Diagnosis
If you suspect you have sleep apnoea, it’s important to go and see a doctor immediately. It is essential to diagnose the condition promptly to treat it effectively. Living with untreated sleep apnoea can make your life very difficult. If you suspect you are suffering from the condition, you need to get in touch with the doctor right away. The doctor will be able to talk you through your symptoms and help you determine whether or not you are suffering from it.
If they decide that you are, they can recommend some form of treatment. Going back to finding a clinic, you need to make sure that you work with the most professional and experienced doctor you can. A good way to make sure that the doctor you have chosen is qualified and suitable for treating you is to take a look at their LinkedIn page and see how much experience they have and where they studied.
Negative Implications
Sleep apnea can have some very negative implications on your life. You need to make sure you get in touch with the doctor right away if you think that you are suffering from it. It is also important to recommend that loved ones get in touch with doctors if they are suffering from symptoms that could be suggestive of untreated sleep apnea. While it is unlikely that sleep apnea is going to kill you, it is not out of the question. Life-threatening sleep apnea is possible. Treating the condition sooner minimizes the harm it can do to your body. Remember that many people who suffer from sleep apnea find themselves unable to get a restful night’s sleep, which can have negative implications on their health in other ways.
Sleep apnoea can ruin your life if it’s left untreated. Thankfully, there are lots of different therapies and options available to people who are suffering from it. Make sure that you find the one that’s right for you. Hopefully, this post will help you to do that.