Question 1

How common is sleep apnea?

Accepted Answer

Pretty common! According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, it is currently estimated that 26 percent of adults between the ages of 30 and 70 years have sleep apnea.

Does your bed partner complain that you snore? Are you experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness or difficulty concentrating during the day? Do you often awaken with a dry mouth or sore throat or have abrupt awakenings accompanied by gasping or choking? These are just a handful of sleep apnea symptoms.

Sleep deprivation can have a profound impact on your quality of life. If you believe you may be suffering from a sleeping disorder, let Sesame help! Sesame offers convenient and affordable consultations with sleep specialists in Fresno, CA at affordable cash-pay prices. Book directly with the doctor you want to see and save up to 60% on your appointment when you book through Sesame - no insurance needed.

Question 2

What is the best treatment for sleep apnea?

Accepted Answer

CPAP (Continuous positive airway pressure) is the most common and reliable treatment for sleep apnea. CPAP prevents snoring and apnea by providing air pressure that is greater than the surrounding air, helping keep your upper airway passages open.

Some people may find the CPAP to be too bulky and uncomfortable and give up on the CPAP machine. With practice, though, most people can find a comfortable and secure fit. You may need to try more than one type of CPAP mask and experiment with the tension on the straps to find the fit that you prefer.

Question 3

Can sleep apnea be cured?

Accepted Answer

Sleep apnea is often a chronic condition that does not go away. However, there are several effective sleep apnea treatments. CPAP therapy is the most common and reliable treatment for sleep apnea. However, many people also see great results using oral appliances, treatment for associated medical problems, supplemental oxygen, adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV), and more.

Question 4

How can I treat sleep apnea without CPAP?

Accepted Answer

If you're not seeing improvements with CPAP therapy, there are still plenty of options available. Those include:

__- PAP Devices:__ PAP devices, such as an Auto-CPAP device, automatically adjust air pressure while you're sleeping. Another option is a bilevel positive airway pressure (BPAP), which provides more pressure when you inhale and less when you exhale.

__- Oral Devices:__ Oral appliances such as a mandibular advancement device (MAD). A MAD is a mouthpiece that moves the lower jaw forward preventing blockages of the airway.

__- Medical Treatment:__ Treating associated medical conditions. Central sleep apnea that may be caused by heart or neuromuscular disorders can benefit from treating those underlying causes. Overly large tonsils and adenoids may also restrict airflow. In these cases, a tonsillectomy may help.

__- Ventilation Devices:__ An adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) device can be used for treating either central sleep apnea or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The ASV device stores information about your normal breathing pattern and automatically adjusts the airflow pressure to prevent pauses in your breathing while you sleep. ASV may be more effective than other PAP devices, but might not be the best choice for people with predominant central sleep apnea or for those who have experienced advanced heart failure.

Question 5

How can I treat sleep apnea from home?

Accepted Answer

If you have mild obstructive sleep apnea you may be able to see great improvements through a few lifestyle changes. Here are a few tips:

__- Lose weight__: Even slight weight loss can help lessen the constriction in your throat. Not to mention obesity can put you at increased risk of other health problems such as heart disease or a heart attack, diabetes, high blood pressure, and more.

__- Exercise:__ Regular exercise can help alleviate symptoms even if you don't lose any weight.

__- Abstain from alcohol or sleeping pills__: These relax the muscles in the back of the throat that interfere with breathing.

__- Try sleeping on your side or stomach__: Sleeping on your back can cause your tongue and soft palate to relax against the back of the throat, causing airway obstruction. Some doctors might recommend positional therapy as a short-term remedy for this. One do-it-yourself trick to keep you from rolling onto your back is by attaching a tennis ball to the back of your shirt or pajama top.

__- Quit smoking__: Smoking can lead to  medical conditions beyond just sleep disorders. If you're struggling to quit, your primary care physician may be able to connect you with resources to help.

For more information on alleviating sleep problems, consult a healthcare professional. Sesame makes it easier than ever. Simply search for sleep specialists in Fresno, CA in our search engine, compare prices, and book directly on the site.

Question 6

Can surgery fix my sleep apnea?

Accepted Answer

There are several effective treatment options for helping you sleep at night, including - a CPAP device, mouthpieces, hypoglossal nerve stimulation, or special pillows. In cases of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in which you have not responded well to any of these treatments, your doctor may recommend surgery. The type of surgery will depend on the part of the body causing the issue - nose, tongue, palate (the soft tissue in the back of your mouth and throat), or the bones in your face, neck, or jaw.

__- Nasal surgery:__ The most common type of nasal surgery is the correction of a deviated septum (when the cartilage separating your nostrils is off-center). This is usually meant to improve the use of CPAP and is not likely to get rid of the apnea entirely.

__- Tongue surgery:__ The two most common tongue surgeries are a lingual tonsillectomy, in which doctors remove part of the base of the tongue, or a genioglossus advancement, which firms up the tongue by pulling the muscle that attaches to your lower jaw forward.

__- Patate surgeries include:__ Tonsillectomy (removal of the tonsils), uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (also known as UPPP or UP3, this is the rearranging of throat tissue to make a bigger airway), palate radiofrequency (the doctor will zap the soft tissue that makes up your palate. As you heal the tissues will stiffen and shrink), and palate implants (small fiber rods are used to stiffen the tissue and keep the airway open.

__- Skeletal surgery:__ This type of surgery aims to change the shape of your airway by moving your jawbones. The most effective (but also most invasive) type of skeletal surgery is called maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) in which the surgeon breaks your upper and lower jaws and moves them forward to make a bigger airway. This generally requires a few days in the hospital. Afterward, your jaw will be held together by tight rubberbands which your doctor will remove at each of your follow-up visits over the following weeks. Another option is called anterior inferior mandibular osteotomy with hyoid suspension. In this type of surgery part of the bone in your chin is removed and your tongue and neck muscles are pulled forward to make more space in your airway. This is less effective than MMA, but you won't need to have your jaws held together during your recovery.

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