Treatments for sleep apnea focus on helping keep the airway open through therapies or surgery, including:
- Changes in sleep position, such as sleeping on your side instead of on your back
- The use of specialized pillows
- Weight-loss regimen, if appropriate
- Smoking cessation
- Practicing good sleep hygiene, including limiting naps during the day
- Nasal irrigation using a saline solution
- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP, pronounced “SEE-pap”) device
- Night-time dental appliance that may be fitted by a dentist
- Surgery for a deviated septum, if appropriate
Adenotonsillectomy (surgical removal of the tonsils and adenoids)
- Surgical removal of tissue from the rear of the mouth and throat (uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, UPPP)
The CPAP device is becoming more common. The device has a face mask which is hooked up to a machine that provides pressurized room air to keep the airway open. By doing this the device makes it easier for the patient to breathe normally through the night.
Treatments for central sleep apnea are somewhat limited. They may include the use of supplemental oxygen, modified versions of the CPAP device, or respiratory stimulant medication as appropriate. Some patients may need a combination of therapies to best treat their central apnea.
The UW Sleep Surgery Clinic at Harborview Medical Center provides a full range of treatment, from diagnosis to therapeutic procedures to surgical options, if needed. The Sleep Clinic offers state-of-the-art treatment from leading specialists in the field of sleep disorders.