In a nutshell, it’s a good idea to check if you suffer from sleep apnea and to seek out treatment if you do. According to Dr Kumar, the most effective treatment for mild to severe sleep apnea at present is continuous positive airflow pressure therapy, where a machine delivers a steady stream of air as one sleeps using a hose and airtight mask or nosepiece.
He also recommends regular exercise (it decreases sleep apnea breathing episodes); weight loss if overweight (it can reduce the number of irregular breathing episodes, lower blood pressure and decrease daytime sleepiness); and sleeping on the side (lying on the back is the worst position for sleep apnea as it causes the jaw, tongue, and other soft tissues to drop back toward the throat, narrowing the airway). Smokers should also consider quitting as smoking increases inflammation and fluid retention in the throat and upper airway.
And here’s the thing: you don’t necessarily have to go to a doctor to check if you have sleep apnea–a dentist will also be able to make a diagnosis as the condition results in signs of teeth grinding, worn teeth and gum recession. A dental professional will also be able to administer treatment.
“The use of a dental device that prevents the tongue from blocking the throat, hence allowing air to flow through the airways unobstructed, would be prescribed,” he says. A Mandibular advancement devices (MADs), which are meant to increase the size of the upper airway, might also be used, and in more severe cases, the patient will be asked to consider undergoing uvulopalatopharyngoplasty–a surgery that entails tissue rearrangement at the uvula, palate and throat walls.
Think it all sounds very uncomfortable and worried about pain? Don’t be.
“Most patients who have undergone dental solutions for sleep apnea have given feedback that they do not experience pain during the surgical procedure at all,” says Dr Kumar.
“They may experience a sore throat or discomfort after the surgery but the ailments can be countered with pain killers. For the other alternative treatments listed, most patients have indicated little to no pain at all.”
Text: Adora Wong/HerWorld
