What is the treatment for OSA?

General measures

Things that can make a big difference include:

• Losing some weight if you are overweight or obese.
• Not drinking alcohol for 4-6 hours before going to bed.
• Not using sedative drugs.
• Stopping smoking if you are a smoker.
• Sleeping on your side or in a semi-propped position.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)

This
is the most effective treatment for moderate or severe OSAS. It may be
used to treat mild OSAS if other treatments are not successful. This
treatment involves wearing a mask when you sleep. A quiet electrical
pump is connected to the mask to pump room air into your nose at a
slight pressure. The slightly increased air pressure keeps the throat
open when you are breathing at night and so prevents the blockage of
airflow. The improvement with this treatment is often very good, if not
dramatic.

If CPAP works, (as it does in most cases) then there
is an immediate improvement in sleep. Also, there is an improvement in
daytime wellbeing as daytime sleepiness is abolished the next day.
Snoring is also reduced or stopped. The device may be cumbersome to
wear at night, but the benefits are usually well worth it. Comments
like "I haven't slept as well for years" have been reported from some
people after starting treatment with CPAP.

Lifelong treatment is
needed. Sometimes you can have problems with throat irritation or
dryness or bleeding inside you nose. However, newer CPAP machines tend
to have a humidifier fitted which helps to reduce these problems.

Mandibular advancement devices

The mandible
is the lower jaw. There are devices that you can wear inside your mouth
when you sleep. They work by pulling the mandible forward a little so
that your throat may not narrow as much in the night. These devices
look a bit like gum shields that sports-people wear. Although you can
buy these devices without a prescription, it is best to get one
properly fitted by a dentist if one is recommended. These devices work
well in some cases. They tend to be used in mild OSAS or in people who
are unable to tolerate CPAP treatment.

Surgery

Surgery is not often used to treat
OSAS. However, sometimes an operation may be helpful to increase the
airflow into your airway. For example, if you have large tonsils or
adenoids, it may help if these are removed. This is more commonly done
in children with OSAS. If you have any nasal blockages, an operation
may help to clear the blockage.