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Treating Sleep Apnea With Surgery Part 3

sleepguru — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 09:25:30 +0000

Finally, many people with sleep apnea may require surgery to the lower airways, the area at the back of the tongue, to allow the airway to widen. One such procedure is Genioglossus Advancement, which sees the genioglossus muscle at the back of the tongue pulled forwards by the forward advancement of a small section of the chin bone. This adds mere millimetres to the chin’s physical appearance. A Midline Glossectomy sees a V shaped area of the middle of the tongue removed, reducing the size of the back of the tongue. Lingualplasty is a similar procedure, but which also sees the removal of side wedges of the tongue, creating a greater airways area. A Tongue Suspension Suture instead focuses on stopping the tongue falling backwards into the airway. A titanium screw inserted into the back of the chin is attached to a stitch in the back of the tongue. The tongue is then tied and pulled forwards, securely preventing it from rolling backwards.
It is important to remember that surgery is not offered lightly to those with sleep apnea, and only when it is necessary is it used. However, these surgical methods offer a permanent solution to the disorder, and a better quality of life to those with the disorder.

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Treating Sleep Apnea With Surgery Part 2

sleepguru — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 09:24:32 +0000

Nasal Surgery – Surgery to the nasal area aims to widen the airway and prevent any airway collapse caused by sleep apnea. Septoplasty is a procedure that widens a deviated and obstructive septum that divides the two nasal passages by straightening the cartilage and bone of the septum. Another procedure, Turbinate Reduction, sees any enlarged turbinates in the nostrils reduced, either with lasers, surgical instruments or a cautery unit.

Upper Airway Surgery - There is a variety of surgery used to narrow the upper airways, including the soft palate, tonsils and uvula areas. Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty is a procedure that sees the edge of the soft palate trimmed back, and the uvula and tonsils removed using lasers or surgical equipment. Similarly, Laser-Assisted Uvulopalaopathy removes the edge of the soft palate and the tonsils, and reduces the uvula, but more gradually, using lasers. This method tends to use 1-3 treatments, each lasting 15 minutes. Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy see the removal of the tonsils and adenoids respectively. This is a rare procedure in adults, but is often used on children suffering from sleep apnea or from snoring. Again, surgery is often used as a more final resort due to the dangers of infection and anaesthetic difficulties.

Treating Sleep Apnea With Surgery Part One

sleepguru — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:23:41 +0000

Many types of surgery have been suggested in a bid to treat Sleep apnea, although it is often used as a last resort. The following two types of surgery are bypasses of the airway, which closes during bouts of Obstructive Sleep apnea.

Tracheostomy - This bypass aims to widen the airway, hoping to prevent the airway from collapsing, and the snoring that commonly accompanies this. Surgery is specific to a certain area in the airway, rather than the whole surface. Although providing a lasting solution for sufferers, this surgery is often not a first resort due to surgery associated risks, such as problems with the anaesthetic used and the chance of infections after surgery.

Tracheotomy - In comparison to the Tracheostomy, the Tracheotomy involves an external opening being created in the front of the windpipe, and a tube being inserted to prevent the airways from closing. While closed during the day to aid breathing, or when speaking, this tube is left open when sleeping to prevent an airway collapse. This type of surgery is often used only in severe situations and when an individual’s life is at risk.

Treating Sleep Apnea With Airway Pressure

sleepguru — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:22:46 +0000

Sleep apnea is a chronic sleeping disorder, common in adults but rare in children. It is characterised by pauses (apneas) or shallow breathing during periods of sleep. Apneas can occur at least 15 times and up to 30 times or more each hour. The disorder is much more prevalent while sleeping rather than when awake, meaning that people are often unaware that they have the condition. Although personal steps can be suggested to combat the disorder, such as losing weight, often recommended treatments involve surgery or using certain devises.

CPAP - The Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devise is the most commonly used treatment of Sleep apnea. It is also the most successful. This devise is a mask attached to the sleeper’s face, with air being blown through an attached tube. This air works towards preventing the airway closing during sleep, a common occurrence for those with obstructive sleep apnea.

BiPAP – This Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure devise works in a similar way to the CPAP, but provides a higher pressure when inhaling, and when exhaling a lower pressure. This devise is used for individuals who cannot cope with the continuous high pressure of the CPAP. The correct pressure of use for each devise and individual is determined through a sleep study. Many people can find that these devises can be uncomfortable while sleeping, and at times heavy. However, recent steps have improved the weight of the devise.

Three Types of Sleep Apnea Part 2

sleepguru — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 09:21:30 +0000

Central Sleep Apnea: Common in both premature infants and adults with cerebrovascular or heart disease, this type of Sleep apnea is caused by the sleeper’s brain not signalling the body to breathe. Both premature infants and adults with heart disease will have higher levels of carbon dioxide in the blood, causing the brain to slow the rate of breathing and carbon dioxide levels to drop. After a while the carbon dioxide levels rise again and the body’s breathing rate becomes more rapid, but the brain adjusts slowly to this change and signals for the rapid breathing to increase. This causes the carbon dioxide level to drop, and the body to stop breathing altogether or slow down. Breathing at a normal rate begins again when the carbon dioxide levels rise. This pattern of breathing, known as Cheyne-Stokes breathing, involves cycles of faster breathing leading to apneas and slower breathing. Although particularly dangerous for premature infants, who are monitored for apneas, the disorder is normally outgrown in the development process.

Mixed Sleep Apnea: Individuals with a long-term form of obstructive sleep apnea are occasionally found to develop central sleep apnea. This can be caused by a malfunction of the body’s carbon dioxide feedback systems, caused by heart failure.

Three Types of Sleep Apnea Part 1

sleepguru — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 09:19:18 +0000

Sleep apnea is a chronic sleep disorder, characterised by pauses, or apneas, in a sleeper’s breathing. These pauses occur at least 15 times an hour, and can occur more than 30 times an hour. Often a person may be unaware that they suffer from the condition; symptoms are much more likely to reported by family members or bed partners than the individual themselves. There are three types of Sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea, central sleep apnea, and mixed sleep apnea.

Obstructive Sleep apnea: For those with Obstructive Sleep apnea pauses in breathing are caused by their airway collapsing. This could be caused by a number of factors, such as a long palate or uvula falling backwards and blocking the airway, swollen turbinate filters in the nose, a deviated septum narrowing the air passages, or the throat’s side walls closing in. Attempts to breathe are then unsuccessful, and will cause the airway to pull together more tightly and negative pressure to build up. This breathing through the now tight airway can cause loud snoring. These attempts continue until the blood’s oxygen level decreases to a point that the person wakes up, or comes from deep sleep to a more shallow level. Although waking up like this may be forgotten by morning, the process is disturbing and may cause daytime tiredness. Obstructive Sleep apnea is related to weight, age and smoking.

Sleep Apnea, Home Remedies

sleepguru — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 09:18:31 +0000

Sleep apnea is a chronic sleep disorder, which causes pauses (apneas) or a much more shallow level in a sleeper’s breathing. Apneas occur at least 15 times an hour, and can occur up to 30 times or more each hour. The disorder is much more prevalent while sleeping, meaning that often a person may not be aware that they have the condition. Symptoms instead are likely to be reported by family members or bed partners instead. Often treatments for the disorder involve surgery, but for those who would prefer self-help remedies of the condition, several steps can be taken, if applicable.

Losing weight – Obstructive Sleep apnea in particular is caused by fat deposits around the neck structure, the tongue and the palate. This means that the airway is restricted and the tongue and palate are more likely to block breathing. Weight loss can work towards preventing these blockages, and will contribute towards opening up the airway.

Regular Sleep - It is advised sufferers should control their sleep, and aim to get 8 hours sleep each night. Sleep apnea is often worse if the sleeper is tired, as can be their snoring.

Sleeping Position - Sleeping on your side is recommended, as is elevating the head. Sleeping on your back should be avoided.

Sleep Apnea in Brief

sleepguru — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:17:41 +0000

Sleep apnea is a chronic sleep disorder characterised by pauses in breathing, or a reduction to shallow breathing, while sleeping. These pauses, or episodes, are known as apneas can last for only a few seconds or for minutes at a time. An apnea is defined as the person stopping breathing for over 10 seconds, or the sleeper taking less than 25% of the normal breathing level. For a sleeper to be defined as having sleep apnea, the episodes should occur at least 15 times an hour. Episodes can occur more than 30 times an hour, following which normal breathing commences once again. These nights experiencing apneas are thought to occur 3 nights a week, or more, and at times can cause the sleeper to awaken. Apneas can also cause the sleeper to move out of deep sleep into lighter sleep. As a result of this change Sleep apnea often causes sleep disruption, and those with the condition can find themselves tired during the day. Although common in adults, it is rare for children to suffer from Sleep apnea. Often a person may be unaware that they suffer from the condition, and it is family or bed partners of the person who tend to highlight the problem.

Sleep Apnea – A Picture of the Symptoms

sleepguru — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:16:53 +0000

Sleep apnea, a chronic sleeping disorder common in adults, is often unnoticed by an individual as episodes of the disorder occur most commonly while the individual is sleeping. Instead it is family members or bed partners of the individual who tend to discover the disorder. Symptoms and warning signs of Sleep apnea include:

Silences of breathing while sleeping - These pauses in breathing, or apneas, occur for at least 10 seconds, and can last as long as minutes. An apnea episode can stop breathing completely, or cause the sleeper to breathe shallowly. Apneas occur at least 15 times an hour, and often more than 30 times.

Gasping or Choking - After pauses in breath, the sleeper may then gasp or choke in a bid to get air back into their lungs.

Suddenly awakening - The sleeper may awaken suddenly, prompted by the brain to restore the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood system. Although this may be forgotten by the morning, these awakenings can be disturbing to sleep quality.

Tiredness during the day - Sleep apnea can be disrupting to a person’s sleep, often causing them to awaken during the night. Even if not awakening the sleeper, the apneas can cause a disruptive switch from deep sleep into lighter sleep.

Other Sleeping Disorders and Red Herrings Part Two

sleepguru — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 09:15:58 +0000

Sleep Paralysis – Sleep paralysis is an unusual phenomenon in which an individual wakes half way through their sleep unable to move with a ‘sense of dread’ and unable to move. This is caused by the paralysis that the body engages during dreams to prevent us from acting out our dreams failing to end upon waking and usually occurs when the individual is woken suddenly by a nightmare. This then leaves the sufferer lying fixed in one position for several minutes before they can move and return to sleep.

Insomnia – Insomnia can mean an individual has problems getting to sleep, but can also describe cases where the person has difficult maintaining sleep or the quality of their sleep. This can be caused by all manner of problems including stress which can cause a rush of adrenaline and other chemicals that trigger the ‘fight or flight response’ and so make it hard to sleep. Insomnia can be helped by keeping a diary of thoughts and concerns and by improving the conditions in which the patient sleeps. In some cases medication may be required.

Nocturia – Nocturia is the constant need to go to the toilet during the night, actually a very common problem that disrupts sleep for a lot of patients. This is often a psychosomatic problem though it can also be related to bladder problems. Patients should avoid drinking before bed and particularly diuretics.