Sleep apnea is a disorder in which an individual’s breathing gets interrupted briefly due to less oxygen. This does not let one have a sound sleep and can become quite troublesome if proper medical attention is not given. Doctors typically recommend lifestyle changes in milder sleep apnea cases, but in severe cases, therapies and surgery may be required.

Here are some popular treatment options for sleep apnea:

1. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
CPAP is a machine that delivers greater air pressure than the surrounding air and opens air passageways. This prevents snoring and makes breathing easier. The machine is like a nosepiece that is strapped with a hose. CPAP is one of the most effective treatment options for moderate or mild sleep apnea patients. Many individuals feel discomfort sleeping with a mask or machine on. But after some adjustments, this machine can give immediate relief. Sometimes patients may need to try on more than one mask to find out what’s comfortable for them. It is best to choose a device that has an in-built humidifier to prevent dryness and skin problems.

2. Alternative devices of CPAP
If sleep apnea patients are not getting accustomed to CPAP, other additional options are available. One is expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP). These are smaller than CPAP but much more convenient. There is also bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP or BPAP), which is like an auto-CPAP device. It is designed especially for individuals that have weak breathing patterns or who cannot adjust to CPAP. This machine adjusts and sets pressure levels automatically depending on how much is needed. It also forces one to breathe by temporarily increasing the air pressure if it detects that the patient hasn’t attempted to breathe for some reason. The adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) is a recently approved machine that stores and recognizes breathing patterns through technology. While sleeping, it evens the breathing pattern by releasing airflow pressure as required.

3. Oral appliance therapy (OAT)
One of the most popular treatment options for sleep apnea is oral appliances. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine suggests OAT as the first-line treatment. These are designed to open the throat and bring the jaw forward to prevent snoring and mild or obstructive sleep apnea. The FDA approves over 100 different devices, but the two most common ones are the mandibular advancement device and the tongue retaining device. It may take some trials and errors to understand which one is comfortable and works best for the patients. However, there can be some side effects to these devices like soreness, excessive drooling, and permanent jaw, mouth, or teeth disposition.

4. Surgery
When all the above treatment options have failed, doctors suggest surgery. Options may include a tissue removal procedure (uvulopalatopharyngoplasty), in which some tissues from the mouth and throat are removed along with tonsils and adenoids. Another option is tissue shrinkage through radiofrequency ablation. There is also jaw repositioning surgery (maxillomandibular advancement), in which the jaw is aligned forward. Implants, nerve stimulation, and tracheostomy are some other surgery options.