Types of Sleep Apnea and Sleep Apnea Treatments

Sleep apnea (also spelled sleep apnoea) is a common sleep disorder in which you stop breathing during the night as often as once a minute or more. The disorder derives its name from the Greek word "apnea" which means "without breath". While snoring is almost always seen in cases of sleep apnea, snoring by itself does not mean that you are suffering from sleep apnea.

Sleep Apnea Types
There are three types of sleep apnea:

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea. This is the commonest and most severe form of sleep apnea and results from a blockage to the airway. In many cases this is caused by the collapse of soft tissue at the rear of throat, although this blockage can also be caused by a number of other structures including, the tongue, enlarged tonsils and polyps.
• Central Sleep Apnea. This form of the disorder results from the brain's failure to send the necessary signals to those muscles that are responsible for controlling breathing. Central sleep apnea is more common in older people and is often also associated with heart disease or with a variety of neurological disorders.
• Mixed Sleep Apnea. As its name would suggest, mixed sleep apnea is a combination of the first two types of this disorder. It is not uncommon for the primary cause to be central sleep apnea, with obstructive sleep apnea as a secondary consequence. In this case, central sleep apnea causes the initial failure to breathe but, as your brain reacts to the problem and signals your diaphragm into sudden movement to restart your breathing, this creates a blockage, resulting in obstructive sleep apnea.

Sleep Apnea Treatments
There are three effective types of obstructive sleep apnea treatments: continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), oral devices and surgery. Currently, most sleep apnea treatments are regularly reimbursed by insurers, but other kinds of treatment, including cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) and evaluating patients' sleep studies, are less frequently covered. Finding the perfect sleep apnea cure will take some patience and testing so see which sleep apnea treatments are best suited for you.

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
A very popular form of treatment is the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). CPAP is applied through a mask that is placed over the nose and/or mouth, and delivers air pressure in order to keep the airway open. Since CPAP utilizes air as its main component, it is very safe, and is often used as a primary treatment option for patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

CPAP is almost always effective at relieving sleep apnea symptoms. Unfortunately, there is no cure for sleap apnea and stopping treatment typically results in a recurrence of symptoms. CPAP is usually ordered after completing a sleep study.

__________________
David
Co-Founder of DailyHealth.net

I have obstructive sleep apnoea. We spell it with the 'o' in Australia, but it's not wrong, just different. I use CPAP but have never found it very satisfactory. When I had my mask fitted the technician told me that many people with sleep apnoea also have depression.

__________________
Melissa

OK, what is a Bi-pap then. I heard the lingo around my old job but never learned what the difference was.

You've got me there - no idea! Anyone?

__________________
Melissa

Melissa, I fixed the "mistakenly" part. I need to remember to not be too American. :)

BiPAP machines provide an alternating current. With sleep apnea, most people have trouble breathing in. If you have trouble exhaling as well, you need a BiPAP machine. This keeps your airway open during inhale and exhale. Some with sleep apnea report that the BiPAP machines are more effective, but they're also more expensive. As a result, they're typically only used when necessary or for those with deeper pockets.

__________________
David
Co-Founder of DailyHealth.net

Thanks David. No I understand the difference. I should have known better. I worked on a cardiac and respiratory floor.

Thanks, David. I appreciate you posting the information.

__________________
Melissa

I've not had a sleep study since getting CPAP, but I've had no strokes so I figure it is working

In the winter, I really have to fill the reservoir on the humidifier quite often, if I run out I wake up with a very dry throat and breathing through my mouth instead of the nasal pillow. I don't wake up gasping for breath either, so that's a good sign.

__________________
-Lloyd

My 13 yr old has central. She has a pulse oximeter and needs stimulation to start breathing again.

When using a CPAP machine, I highly suggest using a "nasal pillow" rather than a mask. It is more comfortable, and a mask can leak air sometime during the night (into my eyes in my case, waking me up).

I could almost never go more than 4 hours with a mask before being awakened, and almost always 8 hrs or more with the nasal pillow. Night and day!

Attached Images

npillow2jpg.jpg (9.4 KB, 5 views)

__________________
-Lloyd

There is an article on our sister forum, Diabetes Daily, on Sleep Apnea. Here is the link:


http://www.diabetesdaily.com/forum/a...61-sleep-apnea

__________________
-Lloyd

some ENT's that do a sleep study will recommend surgery as an attempt to 'cure' sleep apnea

this surgery has less than 25% success rate, and within 5 years, the sleep apnea sufferer will need a CPAP machine

dental appliances cost $2K to $3K depending on your dentist, and are NOT guaranteed to solve the problem

a GOOD AutoPAP with mask and tube runs about $2,500........... and a regular CPAP machine is significantly less

i got the AutoPAP so i can go to my DME, download the results, go back to the Dr with the report, get his Rx for the new pressure, then back to the DME to set my new 'range' of pressures (i go from the lowest to 2 pts higher than the highest setting to give it some range).......... if i'm getting pressures much more than my 'current range' then i will consider a higher low range and higher upper range

i LOVE the AutoPAP because it means i don't have to go back for another sleep study :)

oh, and ps.......... i have always used the nasal mask rather than the nasal pillows...... i got a panic/anxiety attack from the nasal pillows......... who knows why!

oh, and the prices i quoted are for seeing the DME supplier in person........ you can get MUCH better deals on CPAP equipment from cpapman and other online suppliers....... they still need an Rx for you though

__________________
kate