There are many people that suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea. This can make not only their life hard, but it can infringe on the lives of those around the sufferer. Sleep apnea treatments come in many ways. They can be done through self help. The simple act of not taking the sedatives or not drinking the alcohol can, in fact give you a better nights rest. Any substance that may lead to overly relaxed muscles, especially of the neck, jaw and tongue, can cause one to suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. Other self help ideas include weight loss, if this is what needs to be done, maintaining regular sleep hours, sleeping on your side or sometimes the simple act of raising the head of your bed four to six inches will help decrease the incidence of sleep apnea.

If none of these ideas seem to help, then one must seek the advice of his or her primary care physician. Medically, sleep apnea treatments are very diverse. Following a sleep study to confirm the diagnosis of sleep apnea, your physician may suggest that you use CPAP at night. This is actually continuous positive airway pressure to help maintain an open airway throughout your night, thus preventing apneic spells. This is the most common treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. During the night, the sufferer will wear a small mask like structure over their nose. This is connected, through hoses, to a small machine about the size of a tissue box. There are many settings that maybe used and your physician will direct you in which is appropriate for your situation.

Although this is the most common treatment for obstructive sleep apnea, many find wearing this mask at night uncomfortable. These individuals may opt for looking into other sleep apnea treatments. If appropriate, there are dental appliances that maybe helpful, but usually only in mild cases. These appliances will either fit in your mouth or around your chin and head. There are mandibular repositioning devices or tongue retaining devices both of these help maintain an open airway throughout the night. A concern with these appliances is the effects they can have on your teeth.

If all else fails and your problem is sever and persists, there is the last ditch effort. These types of sleep apnea treatments are reserved for anyone that is unable to find relief through the other treatments listed above. Surgery is always the last thing anyone wants, because with it brings other risks including infection. But if nothing else will work and something needs to be done there is this option. Through surgical intervention they are able to either enlarge the airway, maybe by removing your tonsils and adenoids or reconstructing your jaw. These are usually used only as a last resort.