{"id":633,"date":"2018-09-27T15:40:44","date_gmt":"2018-09-27T15:40:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sleepdunwoody.com\/blog\/?p=633"},"modified":"2019-10-16T12:44:08","modified_gmt":"2019-10-16T12:44:08","slug":"steps-take-treat-sleep-apnea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sleepdunwoody.com\/blog\/2018\/09\/27\/steps-take-treat-sleep-apnea\/","title":{"rendered":"What Are the Steps to Treating Sleep Apnea?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"video-initial\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bQZZcfY8zdE?rel=0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" width=\"770\" height=\"434\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your alarm goes off in the morning, and immediately the first thought that enters your head is how tired you feel. You went to bed at a decent hour and fell asleep relatively quickly, but the fact remains that you are constantly tired no matter how much you sleep. This has been going on for longer than you can remember, and it\u2019s really starting to affect your quality of life.<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This kind of chronic exhaustion often points to a very common disorder called<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sleepdunwoody.com\/what-is-sleep-apnea.html\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">sleep apnea<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which affects about 20 million Americans every night.<\/span>\n\n<!--more-->\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read on to learn more about what you should do if you think you (or maybe even a loved one) have sleep apnea.<\/span>\n<h2><b>First Things First: How Can You Know if You Have Sleep Apnea?<\/b><\/h2>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do you experience any of the following symptoms?<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Loud, chronic snoring<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Persistent daytime exhaustion<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Problems with memory and\/or concentration<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consistent morning headaches<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sore throat in the morning<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dry mouth in the morning<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depression and\/or constant mood swings<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Choking, gasping, or periods of complete silence during sleep (usually observed by a bed partner)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Snoring is the most common sign of sleep apnea, but snoring can manifest itself in a variety of ways that may or may not require treatment. Snoring can be benign, be a sign of a condition called <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">upper airway resistance syndrome<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, or be a symptom of sleep apnea. Each condition has its own unique qualities and treatment options (check out our blog<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sleepdunwoody.com\/blog\/2017\/09\/25\/sleep-apnea-stages\/\">\u201cThe Stages of Sleep Apnea: Is Treatment Necessary?\u201d<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to learn more about the differences between these three conditions).<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nonetheless, if any of the above symptoms sound familiar, you should take the steps we\u2019ve listed below.<\/span>\n<h2><b>Step 1: Getting Tested<\/b><\/h2>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you believe that you might have sleep apnea, the first step is to get tested to determine the actual problem. A sleep test will reveal the root cause of your sleep issue as well as its severity. Only after you have a proper diagnosis will a doctor be able to offer the appropriate treatment options.<\/span>\n<h2><b>Step 2: Diagnosis<\/b><\/h2>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After being tested, if you receive a sleep apnea diagnosis, your doctor will then determine if you have<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aastweb.org\/blog\/obstructive-vs.-central-sleep-apnea-key-differences-and-treatment-options\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">central or obstructive sleep apnea<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Central sleep apnea (CSA) stems from a problem with the brain\u2019s communication to the body &#8212; more specifically, the brainstem doesn\u2019t tell the breathing muscles to function properly during sleep. Certain underlying medical conditions can make a person more likely to develop CSA, including<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stroke<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heart attack<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Congestive heart failure<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Encephalitis (inflammation in the brain)<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Arthritis in the cervical spine<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Parkinson\u2019s disease<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Surgery or radiation treatments in the spine<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Certain medications can also contribute to central sleep apnea:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Codeine<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Morphine<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oxycodone<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), on the other hand, occurs when something literally blocks the airway during sleep, whether it be the tongue, soft palate, fatty tissue around the throat, etc. <\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">OSA is by far the most common type of sleep apnea, and its risk factors include:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Obesity &#8211; Obesity can cause excess tissue around the throat, narrowing the airway and making it easier to become blocked<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having large tonsils or adenoids<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having a larger than average tongue or thick neck<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chronic nasal blockage issues, whether due to allergies or a deviated septum<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Smoking<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A recessed chin or large overbite<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Step 3: Receiving Treatment<\/b><\/h2>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If central sleep apnea is identified as the cause, a number of<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/central-sleep-apnea\/diagnosis-treatment\/drc-20352114\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">treatment options<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> may be suggested:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Treating an underlying medical problem (such as those listed above)<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Change in medication (especially if a person is taking opioids)<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CPAP, BPAP, or ASV therapy, which all work to keep the airway open and establish a consistent breathing pattern<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Certain medications, including acetazolamide (Diamox) or theophylline (Theo-24, Theochron, and others) can also be used to stimulate breathing in people with CSA.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If obstructive sleep apnea is identified as the cause, your doctor will then determine if the condition is mild, moderate, or severe. To do this, your doctor will simply look at the results from your sleep test, specifically the number of apnea events that occur in an hour. To have an apnea event means to experience a cessation in breathing during sleep. This doesn\u2019t necessarily mean that breathing has stopped completely; it just means that reductions in respiratory effort and airflow have occurred. Doctors typically classify the severity of sleep apnea in the following ways:<\/span>\n<ul>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mild: Apnea events \u2265 5, but &lt; 15 per hour<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moderate: Apnea events \u2265 15, but &lt; 30 per hour<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Severe: Apnea events \u2265 30 per hour<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After severity has been determined, your doctor can then recommend the best treatment option &#8212;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/obstructive-sleep-apnea\/diagnosis-treatment\/drc-20352095\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">oral appliance therapy, CPAP, or surgery<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span>\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CPAP is a common treatment option prescribed to those with obstructive sleep apnea. Although it is the most commonly prescribed treatment, many sleep apnea sufferers are intolerant to it. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sleepdunwoody.com\/oral-appliance-therapy.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oral appliances <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">are a clinically proven option for mild, moderate and severe sleep apnea sufferers, and a comfortable alternative for those that are unable or unwilling to use CPAP. Surgery is only considered in rare cases as a last line of treatment if other therapies haven\u2019t been effective.<\/span>\n<h2><b>How to Get Started<\/b><\/h2>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To begin your journey to getting a full night\u2019s rest and waking up feeling energized again, you should consult a local sleep expert, like<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sleepdunwoody.com\/meet-dr-rodgers.html\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dr. Jeff Rodgers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at Sleep Better Georgia. He can help provide the answers you need and determine which treatment option may be best for you. To get started, all you need to do is<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sleepdunwoody.com\/request-an-appointment.html\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">schedule a free consultation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Your alarm goes off in the morning, and immediately the first thought that enters your head is how tired you feel. You went to bed at a decent hour and fell asleep relatively quickly, but the fact remains that you are constantly tired no matter how much you sleep. This has been going on for longer than you can remember, and it\u2019s really starting to affect your quality of life. This kind of chronic exhaustion [&hellip;] <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sleepdunwoody.com\/blog\/2018\/09\/27\/steps-take-treat-sleep-apnea\/\">(Read More)<\/a>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-633","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What Are the Steps for Treating Sleep Apnea?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"For those suspect they or a loved one might have sleep apnea, learning more about the treatment process can help alleviate concerns.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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