What are the treatments?
What are the different options of treatment?
If you’ve been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS), it’s reassuring to know that it’s a common and treatable condition.
There are a number of ways to treat it which reduce and control the symptoms. In some cases, this may require lifelong treatment.
Here are the main treatment options. Ask your doctor to suggest the most suitable one for you according to the severity of the disease and your personal medical context.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is the standard treatment (1) for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome.
How does it work?
You wear a mask during sleep which is connected to a flow generator that provides a continuous supply of ambient air and keeps your airway open. A humidifier is sometimes used to avoid possible side effects such as a sore throat and nasal dryness (2).
Why should I use it?
CPAP could be uncomfortable to use at first and you may be tempted to stop using it. But if you keep using it regularly - a minimum of 4 consecutive hours every day - , you’ll soon get used to it and your quality of life should improve vastly (2). CPAP reduces snoring and tiredness and also helps to reduce the risk of many long-term health conditions like hypertension(3) or type 2 diabetes(4).
Other possible treatments
How does it work?
MAD is a dental appliance, similar to a gum shield. It’s designed to hold your jaw and tongue forward to increase the space at the back of your throat so that you can breathe more easily and reduce snoring (2) .
Why should I use it?
MAD is sometimes recommended for mild sleep apnea or as an option if you find CPAP difficult to use. It may not be suitable if you don’t have appropriate dental health (2). Consult your dentist to ensure that your teeth can support the appliance and that it’s the right treatment for you.
Surgery is only used in specific circumstances and requires specialist advice. It is not routinely recommended because it carries the risk of more serious complications. It may only be considered as a last resort if other treatments have not helped (2)
Before treatment, your doctor will advise you to make changes to your lifestyle.
To reduce the risk of sleep apnoea, it could be beneficial to(2):
· Lose weight
· Stop or reduce smoking
· Reduce alcohol consumption, particularly before bed
· Avoid sedative medications and sleeping pills
· Sleep on your side and not on your back.