The new treatments for sleep apnea are an alternative to standard treatments, where many patients have problems to continue the therapy.
I hope you went to the sleep doctor, before trying to treat sleep apnea. This is very importnant, because maybe you don't have sleep apnea disorder, but other sleep problems, such as restless legs syndrome or narcolepsy.
So...speak with your sleep doctor first, then start searching for new treatments for sleep apnea.
Although the gold standard in treating sleep apnea is considered to be Continuous Positive Airway Pressure or CPAP, the compliance by sleep apnea patients is below fifty percent.
How is it possible that one of the most effective cures for sleep apnea can have such a low tolerance with patients?
Well, if you didn?t experience a CPAP therapy before, here is what might happen if you try it:
uncomfortable
noisy
embarrassment
the device is bulky and cumbersome
throat and nose irritation
sore or dry mouth
nasal congestion
eyes irritation
Considering these side effects of CPAP therapy, what are the new treatments for sleep apnea that can be effective but less uncomfortable?
Fortunately, there are new ways to treat sleep apnea. I did some research about this subject, to find more about positive aspects and side effects which can affect the health for a long term.
Here is my list about new treatments for sleep apnea:
New Surgery Treatments for Sleep Apnea
Somnoplasty (Radiofrequency Tissue Volume Reduction) is a new technique to treat sleep apnea. It uses radio-frequency energy to shrink the bulk of soft tissue from the upper airway (soft palate or base of the tongue) through heating the cells.
Positive aspects:
simple solution to treat snoring
helpful in milder cases of sleep apnea
is performed in the doctor's office
it may involve fewer surgical risks than common surgical treatments for sleep apnea
involves less bleeding, no general anesthesia, no hospitalization
Negative aspects:
you may need two to four surgical sessions to have best results
you need more than seven weeks to heal the scar between sessions
it doesn't appear to be an effective treatment for moderate to severe sleep apnea.
swelling often occurs within few days after the surgery, being a risk for the patient with sleep apnea who have difficulties keeping his airway open.
Pillar Procedure is another new type of surgery to treat snoring and sleep apnea. It uses plastic implants or small polyester rods to stiffen the soft palate, to help keep it from relaxing when you sleep.
Positive aspects:
the surgery is generally done in doctor's office with only local anesthesia
is indicated for patients with snoring and mild sleep apnea
There have been no reported major complications
Negative aspects:
the pillar procedure should not be used by patients under 18 years old.
not effective in those patients with soft palate length less than 25mm.
temporary complications: sore or scratchy throat, infection, swelling, or allergic reaction to Implant material.
it may not be effective in moderate sleep apnea.
the verdict on effectiveness of this new sleep apnea treatment is not based on long term results.
not to mention that I found a lot of comments on Youtube about this procedure, and people are unhappy.
For exemple:"...it was completely ineffective for me. My doctor says I'm his first "failure". He wasn't too happy about that. I told him my girlfriend is even less happy! Oh, and I'm out $2500 with no results to show for it (I don't have apnea and insurance won't cover it). "
Laser assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) is one of the new treatments for sleep apnea that can be performed under local anesthesia.
This surgery is indicated in patients with a flat-type palate, and involves several laser cuts making a V-shaped pattern on the soft palate.
Positive aspects:
treat snoring in eighty percent of cases
help treating mild and moderate sleep apnea
less risky, involving less time, bleeding and tissue removal
no hospitalization and general anesthesia
better control of pain symptoms and faster healing
Negative aspects:
medical reports says that snoring may return within 2 years after surgery
although LAUP can treat snoring, it doesn't cure sleep apnea. Remember that sleep apnea is more than snoring.
Oral Appliance Therapy
Thornton Adjustable Positioner (TAP) is a dental device that pulls the lower jaw forward by the rotation of the knob positioned between the lips, creating an open airway in the throat.
Positive aspects:
improvement in snoring and reduce mild and moderate obstructive sleep apnea.
the TAP device allows the patient to adjust the degree to which the mandible is held forward, to increase the comfort.
custom-made by dental doctors.
Negative aspects:
soreness or discomfort in the temporomandibular joint, jaw, or teeth.
tooth or gingival discomfort due to pressure of the appliance.
is a new "device" that helps people with obstructive sleep apnea to eliminate sleep apnea events and snoring.
Avoiding sleeping on the back can be the simplest and most cost effective type of sleep apnea treatment. Positional therapy can also be used to supplement other types of treatment, like CPAP or weight loss, to increase their effectiveness.
Positive aspects:
you will sleep on the side rather on your back without feeling discomfort or pain on your spine.
effective in mild obstructive apnea and in some moderate cases.
the anti snore shirt can be a great asset in treating sleep apnea with CPAP device.
you can try your own anti snore shirt in a sleep clinic, to see if positional therapy may alleviate your symptoms and be an effective course of treatment for you.
for overweight patients with obstructive sleep apnea, anti snore shirt together with weight loss can be the most effective and the cheapest new treatment for sleep apnea.
Negative aspects:
is effective only in patients with mild or moderate obstructive sleep apnea, where the main cause is an obstruction of the airway while lying on their back.
you need to wear it every night to avoid apnea events or snoring.
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The new treatments for sleep apnea are an alternative to standard treatments, where many patients have problems to continue the therapy.
