Cure your snoring problem: Should I Undergo Surgery to Treat My Obstructive Sleep Apnea or Not?

Trying to decide whether or not you should consider undergoing surgery as a means of treating your sleep apnea is a big decision and one that should not be taken lightly. It is important to keep in mind that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a serious disorder that can give rise to other serious health problems such as high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms, heart failure, coronary artery disease, pulmonary hypertension (or high blood pressure in the lungs) and a higher incidence of stroke. It can also lead to excessive tiredness during the daytime, inattention, problems with memory, depression, as well family and work related problems.

Before making a final decision about surgery it is important to take a number of key points into consideration. First of all one of the most effective treatments for sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and it is a very successful treatment option for many patients. You should try using CPAP first before considering surgery. In fact most doctors and sleep experts will insist upon it. If you have a blockage in your throat that cannot be reversed with any other form of treatment you might consider surgery as a viable option to correct the problem. This would be true in the case of a patient who had tonsils that were very big.

Those who find themselves at a terribly high risk for developing other health related complications from sleep apnea might also make a good candidate for surgery. Some types of surgery for sleep apnea, such as uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) require that the patient still use continuous positive airway pressure afterwards. Research has shown that only forty to sixty percent off patients who have UPPP surgery notice an improvement in their sleep apnea symptoms. A tracheostomy is often a “last resort” surgery for patients with severe sleep apnea who find nothing else has worked. This form of surgery has a very success rate but also has its share off physical and psychological complications. Some people suffer infections while others become very self-conscious about the appearance of their throat and their speech patterns. After exhausting other treatment options and surgery seems to be the right course of action for you to take, then consider less drastic forms of surgery that don’t wreck havoc with your appearance.

To return to a look at CPAP, it really is a worthwhile treatment option to take into account. Continuous positive airway pressure is especially beneficial in decreasing the amount of fatigue a patient feels during the daytime, in particular for those who suffer from sleep apnea that is classified as moderate to severe. Research studies into CPAP have found that it plays a role in improving blood pressure levels both during the daytime and at night during sleep. However studies also show that CPAP is not as helpful for those who only suffer a mild case of it. In that case lifestyle changes such as losing weight and quitting smoking should be the first to be undertaken. Patients who choose to go the CPAP route must schedule visits with their doctor often in order to have adjustments made.

Cure your snoring problem

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Should I Undergo Surgery to Treat My Obstructive Sleep Apnea or Not?

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