Sleep Apnea Medical Reference

Illustration copyright 2000 by Nucleus Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.nucleusinc.comA deviated nasal septum is a crooked wall made of bone and cartilage that divides the nose into two equal parts. A deviated septum may be caused by injury or surgery to the nose.A deviated nasal septum may not cause symptoms. When present, symptoms may include a crooked nose, difficulty ...

A list of resources for information on Sleep Apnea: Uvulopalatoplasty.

Laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) is a technique that uses lasers to perform surgery for some sleep-related breathing disorders. It may be used if you have: Loud,habitual snoring. Research shows,though,that snoring may return,usually within 2 years after the surgery. 1 Upper airway resistance syndrome,in which nighttime breathing is obstructed but does not actually stop. Symptoms ...

You can help prevent obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and snoring by ways that include: avoiding the use of alcohol and medicines, such as sleeping pills and sedatives, before bed, eating sensibly, exercising, and maintaining a healthy body weight, sleeping

A list of contributors to the topic on Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

The first treatment options for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are lifestyle changes,such as losing weight or not drinking alcohol before bed,and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). If these do not work,or if an obvious tissue or bone problem is causing your sleep apnea,surgery is an option. Common surgeries for sleep apnea include uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP),which is removal ...

Snoring is a major symptom of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). But even though most people who have sleep apnea snore,not all people who snore have sleep apnea. Snoring occurs when the flow of air from the mouth or nose to the lungs is disturbed during sleep,usually by a blockage or narrowing in the nose,mouth,or throat (airway). If you snore and do not have sleep apnea,your snoring is ...

Tracheostomy is sometimes used to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). In this surgery, the surgeon creates a permanent opening in the neck to the windpipe (trachea). He or she then puts a tube into the opening to let air in.

Illustration copyright 2003 Nucleus Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.nucleusinc.comContinuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a machine that helps a person who has obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) breathe more easily during sleep. A CPAP machine increases air pressure in the throat so your airway does not collapse when you breathe in. You use CPAP at home every night while you

Health tools help you make wise health decisions or take action to improve your health. Decision Points focus on key medical care decisions that are important to many health problems.

Sleep apnea occurs when you regularly stop breathing for 10 seconds or longer during sleep. It can be mild,moderate,or severe,based on the number of times an hour that you stop breathing (apnea) or that airflow to your lungs is reduced (hypopnea). This is called the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). Mild apnea. Mild apnea is defined as 5 to 14 episodes of apnea or reduced airflow to the lungs ...

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a machine that helps a person who has obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) breathe more easily during sleep. A CPAP machine increases air pressure in your throat so that your airway does not collapse when you breathe in. Your using CPAP may also help your bed partner sleep better.You use CPAP at home every night while you sleep. The CPAP machine has a mask ..

Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy are surgeries that remove the tonsils and adenoids.

What is sleep apnea? Sleep apnea occurs when you regularly stop breathing for 10 seconds or longer during sleep. It can be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the number of times in an hour that your breathing stops (apnea) or becomes very slow (hypop

A list of resources for more information on sleep apnea.

Certain factors make it more or less likely that you will have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Some of these you cannot change, while others you can.

Your doctor will examine you and ask you and possibly your sleeping partner questions about your lifestyle, snoring, sleep behavior, and how tired you feel during the day (this is called a medical history). If your doctor thinks that you may have obstruct

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Call your doctor if: You or your bed partner snores loudly and heavily and feels sleepy during the day; you notice that your bed partner stops breathing, gasps, or chokes during sleep; you sometimes fall asleep at inappropriate times; and if your child sn

Oral devices (also called oral appliances or mandibular repositioning devices) are sometimes used to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). They push the tongue and jaw forward, which makes the airway larger and improves airflow. This also decreases the chance that tissue will collapse and narrow the airway when you breathe in. See a picture of a mandibular repositioning device (MRD).Oral breathing devices are sometimes a reasonable alternative to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Although oral breathing devices generally do not work as well as CPAP, they may be considered for people who:1, 2Have mild or moderate sleep apnea.Prefer not to use or who have failed CPAP treatment.Had surgery that did not work.Tried behavioral changes that did not work.Are at a healthy weight.Choose a dentist or orthodontist who has experience fitting these devices. And go back to your dentist for regular check-ups to make sure the device still fits well.Oral breathing devices can improve sleep

A mandibular repositioning device (MRD) is sometimes used to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The device pushes the tongue and jaw forward. This makes the airway larger and improves airflow. The MRD also reduces the chance that tissue will collapse and narrow the airway when you breathe in.

CitationsFerguson KA, et al. (2006). Oral appliances for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea: A review. Sleep, 29(2): 244–262.Malhotra A, White DP (2002). Obstructive sleep apnea. Lancet, 360(9328): 237–245.Hensley M, Ray C (2009). Sleep apnoea, search date May 2008. Online version of BMJ Clinical Evidence: http://www.clinicalevidence.com.

A list of topics related to Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Health tools help you make wise health decisions or take action to improve your health. Decision Points focus on key medical care decisions that are important to many health problems.

Fiber-optic pharyngoscopy is a procedure that allows your doctor to look into the upper part of your respiratory system. He or she may use it to help decide how to treat your obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). You remain awake during the procedure. Your doctor gives you medicine ( anesthesia ) to numb your throat and then places a thin,flexible tube (endoscope) inside your nostril and gently ...