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Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Alternate Names : Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome, Sleep Apnea, Sleep Apnea Syndrome
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Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment
The goal is to keep the airway open to prevent apneas during sleep.
Weight management (or intentional weight loss) and avoiding alcohol and sedatives at bedtime may relieve sleep apnea in some individuals. If these measures are unsuccessful in stopping sleep apnea, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), a form of mechanical breathing assistance that involves the use of a specially designed mask worn over the nose or nose and mouth at night, may be prescribed.
Mechanical devices inserted into the mouth at night to keep the jaw forward are being studied as a form of treatment.
Surgery to remove excess tissue at the back of the throat (called a uvulopalatopharyngoplasty or UPPP), to remove enlarged tonsils or adenoids (see tonsillectomy), or to create an opening in the trachea to bypass the obstructed airway during sleep (tracheostomy) may be helpful if anatomical causes are present. In some people, surgery to remove blockage of the nose or upper throat may relieve sleep apnea.
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• Definition
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea Symptoms & Signs
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea Prevention
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea Diagnosis & Tests
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea Prognosis
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea Complications
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea Support Groups
• Calling Your Health Care Provider
• Pictures & Images
Topics that might be of interest to you Diseases & Conditions
• Arrhythmias
• Cor Pulmonale
• Hypertension
• Right-Sided Heart Failure
• Sleep Disorders
Tests & Exams
• CO2
• ECG
• Polysomnogram
Surgery & Procedures
• Adenoid Removal
• Tonsillectomy
• Tracheostomy
Other Topics
• Breathing Difficulties - First Aid
• Confusion
• Consciousness - Decreased
• Drowsiness
• High Blood Pressure
• Nasal CPAP
• Obesity
• Skin Discoloration - Bluish
• Snoring
• Swelling
Review Date : 10/10/2002
Reviewed By : A.D.A.M. editorial. Previously reviewed by David A. Kaufman, M.D., Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network (12/6/2001).
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