CPAP For Sleep Apnea

While Mild sleep apnea can be treated by simple behavioral changes, more chronic forms of the ailment require medical treatment.

Moderate to severe sleep apnea is usually treated by CPAP, Continous Positive Airway Pressure. This refers to a machine that blows air continuously through the nose, keeping the airways unobstructed and open.

For more chronic sleep apnea, a BPAP (Bi-Level Positive Airway Pressure) machine is used. This blows air at two different pressures.

OTHER TREATMENTS FOR SLEEP APNEA

* Surgery

Removal of enlarged tonsils or other organs blocking the airways will sometimes be the solution resorted to.

* Uvulo-Palato-Pharyngoplasty (UPPP)

This is another surgical procedure where the uvula and excess tissues around it are removed. This is only done for patients who can't tolerate CPAP or BPAP machines.

* Somnoplasty

This is an experimental procedure that uses radiowaves to shrink tissues blocking air passages.