OSA or Obstructive Sleep Apnea is diagnosed by a sleep study (polysomnogram). The study is done at a sleep center in which a test sleep overnight will be done. Alternatively, at home sleep apnea text may also be used to diagnose OSA. During the sleep study, your breathing, heart rate and oxygen level will be monitored.
Sleep apnea can be effectively treated, and there are a number of ways to do so. The choice of treatment will depend on the reason for and severity of the sleep apnea.
- If your OSA is from being overweight, weight loss may cause the apnea to go away completely.
- As alcohol can suppress breathing and make OSA worse, avoid alcohol for at least 4 hours before going to bed.
- If you are a back sleeper, use a pillow or some strategy to force yourself to sleep on your side.
- CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) is a machine that works like a compressor to blow air into a mask that is worn snugly over the nose and/or mouth or in the nostrils (nasal pillows) during sleep. This helps prevent obstruction and the apnea from occurring.
- Oral appliances or devices for people with mild sleep apnea or not overweight are worn in the mouth during sleep may keep your airway open. These devices usually custom-made and fitted under the supervision of a specialized dentist or oral surgeon who treats these problems.
- Surgery can be done if the tonsils and adenoids are causing the throat to be blocked. Other surgeries include clearing out tissue from the back of the throat, reposition the tongue, or implant a nerve stimulator to cause the tongue to move foward during sleep. However, these surgeries are reserved for people who have failed CPAP.
Author
Andrea G. Espinoza MD
Board Certified Pulmonologist
Board Certified LifeStyle Medicine