Sleep apnoea is more than just a nighttime bother. It can also lead to serious health problems without proper medical intervention. While possible health complications must be taken seriously, the good news is that they can often be avoided by being proactive about pursuing sleep apnoea treatments.
With obstructive sleep apnoea, the airways become fully or partially blocked at night. Along with excessive loud snoring, sleep apnoea is also accompanied by daytime fatigue, headaches, and irritability. However, the effects of sleep apnoea become more serious over time, and can result in the following:
In addition to these significant complications, untreated sleep apnoea also increases one’s risk of premature death according to certain studies.
For milder forms of obstructive sleep apnoea, special mouth pieces can help. Mouth pieces are designed to keep the airways open, which ensures proper oxygenation. When the condition causes significant symptoms, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices deliver puffs of air to the lungs via a face mask to prevent stoppages in breathing at night. While CPAP machines deliver a consistent level of pressure, other devices can sense when the airway is obstructed and adjust pressure accordingly.
In the event these treatments are not effective, surgical procedures will be recommended. Procedures can involve tissue removal to increase the size of the airways, or a patient may receive an implanted device that stimulates certain nerves to ensure proper tongue positioning while sleeping.