Obstructive sleep apnea can interrupt your sleep and lead to some serious health problems including heart disease, high blood pressure and liver problems. There are a variety of different treatments for obstructive sleep apnea. The condition is primarily caused by obstructions in the airway, like the tongue rolling to the back of the throat or tissue collapsing in their airway. The treatment options available include lifestyle changes, oral appliances, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines or surgery.
Oral appliances have been found to be an effective alternative to CPAP machines or even surgery. These appliances work by fitting over your teeth and holding your airway open while you sleep. They can also prevent your tongue from rolling back and blocking your airway. CPAP machines work by gently blowing air into your throat through a mask that fits over your face to keep your airway open. Surgical treatments often involve either using an injection in the breathing passage to shrink the tissue or inserting a piece of plastic to stiffen the excess tissue.
Diagnosis of sleep apnea much be made by a sleep physician, but we recommend that you also consult our oral surgeon if you suffer from any of these common symptoms:
- Extreme daytime drowsiness
- Irritability and personality changes
- Difficulty sleeping
- Snoring
- Sore or very dry throat when waking up
- Frequent morning headaches
To learn more information about sleep apnea treatments in Norwalk, Connecticut, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Imanuel Babayev, call Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery of Fairfield County at 203-489-0980 today!
