If you are a person that suffers from sleep apnea, you probably know how cumbersome it can be to use a CPAP machine to aid your breathing while you sleep. While it is a better alternative than the harmful effects of not treating your obstructive sleep apnea, it is hardly a full solution to the problem. Sufferers of obstructive sleep apnea are prone to many negative health effects including a lack of concentration, grogginess, and an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. Nearly 18 million Americans are afflicted with this disorder, with a full 1 out of 20 males and 1 out of 30 females living with the problem. To that end, biologists and doctors have been toiling endlessly to work towards a better type of treatment for the sufferers of this tragic condition. Luckily, there has been a medical breakthrough in the form of a tiny new implant which may be of great merit to those with a sleep apnea condition.

The implant procedure that is creating quite a buzz in the medical community is known as the pillar procedure, and it involves small implants that are placed within the soft palate. The implants and the scar tissue that is created by the surgical procedure helps to provide a level of support to the soft palate so that it is not as easily collapsible. This can cause the airway of those with obstructive sleep apnea to be more open, allowing the patient to breathe more properly throughout the evening. The soft palate of those who have the pillar procedure tends to stay in place, as opposed to falling back which commonly occurs in those with the disorder. Studies show that a full two thirds of all mild obstructive sleep apnea sufferers can benefit from the treatment, and it has been approved by the FDA. The surgery is an outpatient procedure, and it has been performed with a very reasonable success rate by doctors for the past four years. The implant takes roughly thirty minutes to install, and three small implants are placed throughout the palate.

While the long-term benefits of this surgery are not yet realized, it shows much promise in helping those with a mild case of apnea to reduce their problem. The implants in the palate do not pose much of a problem to the patients, as they cannot be felt after being implanted. Also, if the implants prove to be of little success, they can be easily removed via another surgery. While not a complete solution to the problem caused by obstructive sleep apnea, these implants represent a new hope for those who have a mild form of the condition. As with any serious medical procedure, it’s important to get a proper opinion from your trusted health care professional. Also, if you feel unsure whether or not your condition merits the treatment, a second opinion is advised. For those who wish to learn more about the Pillar procedure, you can contact Cynthia Harding, the Public Relations Director of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center at cynthia.harding@cshs.org.

A tracheostomy is a conventional form of surgery that is only performed today as a last resort for patients who have found that nothing else helps them and/or if their sleep apnea is serious enough to be deemed life threatening. Although this surgery has a high success rate (some doctors go as far as to say that it is one hundred percent effective) it involves an incision in the throat that is approximately the size of a quarter. And can give rise to any number of other health problems, some medical in nature while others are psychological. A tracheostomy is a very straightforward type of operation. Basically put, “the surgeon makes an opening through the neck into the windpipe and inserts a tube.” The opening, which is a permanent one coupled with the tube allows for the easy flow of air in and out of the windpipe (or trachea) Let’s take a closer look.

The tracheostomy tube allows air to flow in and out of the patient’s lungs and eliminates sleep apnea episodes. During the daytime hours a valve allows the tube to remain shut making it possible for the individual to both breathe and talk as naturally as possible. At night when the individual is sleeping the valve is wide opening allowing for air to flow into the throat but bypass the blockage and then find its way into the lungs.

Not everyone who undergoes a tracheostomy needs the same amount of time to recover. In other words some people require more time than others. When sleep apnea is brought about by the upper airway being blocked, a tracheostomy almost always is a successful operation. However keep in mind that this form of surgery is a kind of treatment that is often undertaken after all else has failed to work.

There are a number of risks associated with having a tracheostomy. First of all scar tissue sometimes forms where the hole is made in the throat and this can make a difference in the appearance of the neck. Sometimes a patient who has a tracheostomy has a chance of developing an infection at the sight of the operation (symptoms include swelling, redness and drainage of fluid) and bleeding is often a complication. Some patients have problems with their speech, some immediately following the surgery but find it improves with healing while others notice a permanent alteration in speech patterns. There is also a greater chance that a variety of lung infections will develop in patients who undergo a tracheostomy. Finally psychological and emotional problems such as depression and a lack of self-esteem can evolve as a result of this surgery.

Some people are very self-conscious about their appearance after having a tracheostomy as it is more obvious in some people than it is in others. People who are overweight or obese often suffer more long-term consequences due to fatty tissue on the neck that can block the hole in the throat. It is important to be impeccable with your hygiene habits after having a tracheostomy as keeping the area of the neck where the tube was inserted clean and free of debris is extremely important.

Two operations that are sometimes undertaken to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) include a tonsillectomy and an adenoidectomy. The former means a removal of the tonsils while the latter is a removal of the adenoids. However these types of surgeries are not used to improve snoring in young children and are rarely used to improve symptoms in adults who snore. They are predominantly operations to treat sleep apnea. Doctors often recommend one or both of these types of surgery if enlarged adenoids and/or tonsils are the cause of the obstructed airway in a patient. This is often the first treatment recommended for children as tonsils or adenoids that are inflamed or enlarged are very often the number one cause of sleep apnea in those of a young age.

Children who have both these surgical procedures done usually notice improvements in their sleep apnea symptoms anytime within a six month period after their operation. Parents notice in their children that the incidence of coughing, colds and snoring decrease tremendously and children start to feel healthier, stronger and more like their old selves again. As well repeated nights of restless sleeps are less common as time goes on, as are bursts of hyperactivity and other behavioral types of problems. These operations have a high rate of success being in the area of seventy-five to one hundred percent. This is true whether the child is of a normal or is slightly overweight.

Both tonsillectomies and adenoidectomies must take place in a hospital and may require a short stay of a few days. Both a child and an adult who undergo these surgeries need to be closely monitored afterwards, as injury to nerves, swelling in the throat and a sense of extreme sleepiness can be a consequence of the surgery and the meds administered during the surgery. Blood oxygen levels also need to be carefully watched the first, second and third nights following the operation(s).

When these forms of surgery are performed on children who are three years or younger or those who suffer from such medical problems as Down syndrome there is more of a risk of health complications such as breathing difficulties. Children who fall into the above category often require continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or oxygen therapy following surgery.

After both these types of surgical procedures a patient will notice that their throat is extremely sensitive and sore (a great deal more sore than it is when a virus has caused a sore throat). Both eating certain types of food and swallowing food can cause discomfort and difficulties the first few days following the surgery. Two main complications of post surgery include bleeding and the risk of infection. A certain amount of bleeding is to be expected but excessive bleeding is a problem that needs to be addressed immediately.

Children who suffer from chronic upper respiratory infections, asthma as well as other respiratory problems as well as heart related conditions need to have these serious problems addressed medically before a tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy can be performed. If they are not then the child is at risk for more complications during and following the surgery.

Surgery is usually sought out as a last resort for patients suffering from severe obstructive sleep apnea. Surgery for sleep apnea in adults most often takes into account the tongue, throat, neck and/or the nose. There are times when more than one surgical procedure is combined for optimum results.

The most commonly undertaken surgical procedure for sleep apnea is uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. This is also known in its abbreviated form as UPPP (or “UP3”). In some cases, sleep apnea takes place because of too much tissue in the area of either the soft palate or the uvula (which is the “tissue that hangs from the middle of the back of the roof of the mouth”). In a standard UPPP operation, the airway is made larger by the process of opening the airway at the soft palate. In other cases, a section of the soft palate known as the uvula and tissue from the sides of the mouth is taken out and this may or may not include the tonsils. An oscillating blade is used to perform UPPP surgery. Closely following on the heels of UPPP is laser-assisted uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (or LAUP). This type is exactly like UPPP only it takes place with a laser instead of a blade.

A tonsillectomy and/or an adenoidectomy are undertaken if a patient has either tonsils or adenoids that are infected and/or excessively large and are obstructing the airway while they sleep at night. In this situation either the tonsils or the adenoids or both are surgically removed. This is often an option undertaken for young sleep apnea sufferers. When it comes to adult patients sometimes this operation is performed on its own or else it is done along with a LAUP or UPPP operation.

A tracheostomy is the final surgery that physicians recommend for patients as it can not only be risky health wise but it can give rise to other health problems. However this extreme form of surgery is very successful at ridding a person of sleep apnea. In this case the doctor makes a hole in the patient’s trachea (or windpipe) and then a tracheotomy tube is placed in the hole to allow air to freely flow through, thereby allowing the patient to breathe properly.

Mandibular advancement or mandibular myotomy is a way to reposition a patient’s tongue in order to keep it from causing problems with breathing. When it comes to this type of surgery, “the jawbone is broken, moved forward and fixed temporarily to move the chin and tongue away from the back of the throat.” Generally this guarantees that the tongue is brought anyway from six to ten millimeters forward. Another form of surgical advancement, known as hyoid advancement is when a bone that is found in the neck known as the hyoid bone is moved or “advanced” forward in order to properly open the airway in the neck region.

In some people their tongue is so large that it obstructs breathing and encourages sleep apnea to occur. There is a surgical procedure known as a radiofrequency ablation of the tongue that can improve this situation. A radiofrequency probe is applied to the back of the throat area over the course of five treatments. The heat from the probe works to shrink the overall volume of the tongue thus making air obstruction less likely.

Central sleep apnea is a problem that is relatively uncommon. While obstructive sleep apnea occurs often, central sleep apnea is rarely diagnosed. Obstructive sleep apnea can be very damaging to the body, causing an obstruction of the airway that forces a person to wake up repeatedly throughout the night and leading to a host of problems. Central sleep apnea is a problem that is not as commonly addressed. It’s a rare condition in which the brain is unable to properly signal the body to let it know when to breathe while sleeping. Many people who are affected by central sleep apnea also have a minor case of obstructive sleep apnea. Clinically, central sleep apnea is diagnosed when 10 or more apneas occur during an hour due to central causes and less than 5 apneas occur in the hour with an obstructive cause.

Central sleep apnea is a problem that cannot be as easily solved as obstructive sleep apnea. While obstructive sleep apnea sufferers may simply change the position in which they sleep or get a continuous positive airway pressure (or CPAP for short) machine to curb their problem, there are not many options available for those with central sleep apnea. Luckily, doctors have been researching possible medications to help treat the program, and they may have experienced a breakthrough. Ambien is a sedative drug that can prove to be of definite merit to those suffering from central sleep apnea. While there are many more studies to be done, the results of a study conducted by Syed Quadri, M.D. of Henry Ford hospital regarding the drug are quite promising. After giving central sleep apnea sufferers Ambien for 6 weeks, apnea episodes were shown to be significantly decreased. The drug was administered 30 minutes before bedtime at a dose of 10 milligrams. A polysomnographic exam was conducted at the beginning of the trial and at the end of the trial. 20 patients completed the study, and the results were astounding. The average occurrence of any apnea events, whether obstructive or central, fell from 30 per hour to 13 per hour, representing a statistically significant change. Central apneas fell from an average of 26 episodes per hour to merely 7!

While the study represents a marked improvement in our understanding of central sleep apnea, there is still much to be learned. If the drug truly ends up being of merit to apnea sufferers, it represents a hypnotic, sleep-inducing drug that the patient will need to be dependant on. The safety of Ambien on a long-term dosage has not been accurately determined yet, so it’s important not to jump the gun on this study. More studies are being conducted to note the effects of Ambien long term, as well as studies constructed to help understand what hypnotic drugs do in those with apnea. So, while Ambien may not be a cure for central sleep apnea, it definitely represents a milestone in the fight for understanding this mysterious disease. Hopefully, our knowledge will only continue to grow.

Sleep apnea is a disorder that affects breathing during sleep. Apnea comes from a Greek word that stands for “want of breath.” Sleep apnea is a chronic health problem and is also a progressive condition which means it can potentially worsen over time. These cessations of breathing can last anywhere from a minimum of ten to thirty seconds and upwards to as much as four hundred per night in those with severe sleep apnea. Some individual are so plagued by the condition that they are awakened every thirty seconds a nigh with another apnea episode. Sleep apnea is still greatly misunderstood by the medical community although research is ongoing. There are a great many individuals who are unaware that they even suffer from sleep apnea. Sometimes it takes a spouse, family member or close friend to bring the problem to the individual’s attention. Sleep apnea is a serious health problem that can be life threatening if left undiagnosed and untreated.

It is estimated that anywhere from twelve to twenty million American citizens suffer from sleep apnea in varying degrees. There are three kinds of sleep apnea- obstructive, central and mixed, of which obstructive sleep apnea is the most widespread by far. Obstructive sleep apnea can be mild, moderate or severe. It can easily go from mild to moderate or moderate to severe. Sleep apnea is not “age-specific” and affects individuals of every age, including children. Both men and women develop sleep apnea although it is more common in men then women, especially middle-aged men who are overweight. Part of this is believed to be due to the fact that men have a thicker neck circumference than women.

Breaking sleep apnea down even further by gender approximately twenty-four percent of men suffer from the sleep disorder while the percentage for women is nine percent. Women who have not entered menopause yet are less likely to suffer from sleep apnea than are women who are presently experiencing menopause or women who have already gone through it. However after menopause women are approximately as likely as men to develop sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common of all sleep disorders. It is estimated that half of the patients who suffer from sleep apnea also suffer from loud, habitual snoring and are overweight. According to the National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research, approximately 38,000 deaths occur on an annual basis that relate to cardiovascular problems that in one way or another are connected to sleep apnea. These problems include high blood pressure, hypertension and stroke, among others. An estimated six million American residents suffer from sleep apnea that is moderate to severe and may necessitate a late night visit to the e=emergency room. Unfortunately a great many people do not, as previously mentioned, even realize that they suffer from sleep apnea. This number is somewhere around 500,000 individuals.

Of the men and women that suffer from sleep apnea, approximately four percent of men and two percent of women meet what is deemed as the “diagnostic criteria” for the sleep disorder, which averages an estimated ten bouts of apnea (or apneic events or episodes) in the course of an hour while they sleep.

Sleep apnea is not a disorder to be taken lightly nor is it something that will go away on its own with time. In fact sleep apnea is classified as being a “progressive disease” which means that just like cancer, diabetes and heart disease it gets worse with time. There is a lot of debate in the medical community about the effect that sleep apnea has on other medical problems. There is a definite connection between sleep apnea and these physical conditions- high blood pressure, diabetes, heart failure, heart attack, kidney failure, pulmonary hypertension and stroke.

More and more research is looking into why the above conditions are related to problems erupting in the upper airways of a person suffering from sleep apnea. It is well known that being overweight, smoking and abusing alcohol plays a role in sleep apnea and in turn leads to a greater chance of developing heart disease and hypertension. However it is not clear while some people who do not have any of these problems regarding their lifestyle still develop sleep apnea.

When there is a cessation of breathing during a sleep apnea episode the bloodstream shows higher levels of carbon dioxide while oxygen levels decrease. As a result of this, a series of chemical and physical events takes place in the body that then increases the risk of other problems arising in the body.

In individuals who suffer from sleep apnea and who are overweight, experts have discovered that they have high levels of immune factors known as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 6 (IL-6). High levels of both of these factors can cause serious inflammation in the body which can lead to cell damage, especially in the arteries. In one particular study it was shown that people with elevated levels of TNF-alpha suffered from shortness of breath, excessive tiredness and a “weak heart-pumping action.” However it must be said that to date no “clear causal relationship” between obstructive sleep apnea and heart disease has been scientifically established.

Many studies have been conducted to look at high blood pressure and sleep apnea. A link has been found between the two. To give an example, a study done in 2000 examined patients over a four year period and showed that the more apnea episodes they experienced in the first year, the greater risk was posed for them to develop hypertension by the third or fourth year. Even in those who snored or experienced mild sleep apnea there was a “weak but still higher than normal association with high blood pressure.”

In the past the connection between sleep apnea and hypertension was believed to be strongly linked to obesity. However recent studies are pointing to other findings, which is that hypertension is particularly high in individuals who suffer from sleep apnea no matter what their weight is.

Blood pressure affects sleep apnea because it fluctuates tremendously during repeated sleep apnea episodes. These fluctuations are also related to changes in the form of sudden surges that take place in the sympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system “controls involuntary muscles, importantly those in the blood vessels and heart.” It is strongly believed that as time passes, these fluctuations could play a significant role in the development of permanent long-term hypertension.

Sometimes surgery is a viable option when all else fails. The specific goal of surgery is to “enlarge the airway and prevent snoring and airway collapse.” Surgery is “site-specific”, meaning that it pinpoints a particular area of the airway and makes it bigger. Nasal surgery poses as great a risk to health as any operation does, with the biggest concern being anesthesia. The greatest advantage of nasal surgery is that it often provides a permanent solution for the sleep apnea problem.

Septoplasty is one form of nasal surgery that is performed by way of the nasal passages. The septum is the piece of cartilage that divides the nostrils into two separate passages.  Those with a crooked (or deviated) septum can experience problems with their airways as it works as an obstruction to breathing. A septoplasty is undertaken by surgeons to correct this problem. How it works is that a tiny incision is made inside one of the nostrils and then the septum bone and cartilage are both straightened to do away with the problem.

Turbinate reduction is another form of nasal surgery. Each nostril contains three turbinates and they are the lower, middle and upper. Each turbinate is composed of bone that is encased by soft tissue and the purpose of them is to soak up the air that is breathed in and then warm and moisturize it as it required. When a turbinate is too large it can obstruct the airways. The nasal airway can work to its optimum best if an enlarged turbinate is made smaller surgically. The process of turbinate reduction can be done by way of lasers, a cautery unit, radio-frequency energy or surgical instruments.

Other types of nasal surgery include endoscopic sinus surgery and the removal of polyps from the nose. Sometimes the development of small growths in the nose called polyps can bring about obstructions of the airways. In other cases a succession of sinus infections can bring on nasal problems in the form of air obstruction. If either of these situations are the case then it is necessary for a patient to undergo sinus surgery or polyp removal surgery.

Upper airway surgery is undertaken for the purpose of “narrowing the upper part of the airway involving the soft palate, uvula, tonsils, or adenoids.” Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is undertaken when a patient has an elongated soft palate as well as an enlarged uvula. UPPP surgery is performed under general anesthesia and is done by way of conventional surgical instruments or a laser. What happens during the surgery is that the uvula is taken out and then the bottom edge of the soft palate is trimmed down as is necessary and then if the patient has tonsils they are taken out. Stitches accompany this surgery and most doctors use the kind that dissolve in the mouth.

Laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) is used to treat not only OSA but consistent loud snoring as well. When it comes to this surgery the back edge of the soft palate is removed and the uvula is reduced in size. If the tonsils are part of the problem they are treated by way of a laser. LAUP is performed under local anesthesia in a doctor’s office. Most doctors use a carbon dioxide (CO2) laser to perform the procedure.

This is not a one-time thing. LAUP consists of anywhere from one to four treatments and takes approximately fifteen to twenty minutes at a time. Most patients need to continue treatments for anywhere from four to six weeks. It generally takes that long for there to be an improvement noted in symptoms.

Sleep apnea is a terrible sleep disorder which can have some very negative effects on your health and your quality of life. Sleep apnea can strike at any age, and it is a degenerative condition that will become more serious over time if left untreated. There are some things that you can do to lower your risk of sleep apnea; if you are high in risk factors, you may be setting yourself up for a terrible sleep disorder. In the following article, we’ll be discussing the various methods that people use to keep their risk factor for sleep apnea down.

1. Keeping in shape is of utmost importance. One of the main causes of sleep apnea is an excess of fatty tissue in the neck caused by being obese. This tissue can weigh down on the esophagus, causing an obstruction of the air way and consequently a case of sleep apnea. One way of diagnosing your need for fitness is to measure the circumference of your neck. If you find your neck to be in excess of 17 inches, a significant risk of contracting sleep apnea is present.
2. Using depressants such as alcohol or sleeping pills definitely weighs into a person’s chance of contracting sleep apnea. Alcohol and sleeping pills cause the muscles of the body to relax; this behavior includes the muscles found in the throat, and when they are relaxed, an air way obstruction can occur. For that reason, if you must drink, it is important to have your last beverage at least 4 hours before you go to bed. This gives your body a chance to process the alcohol in your system, leading to a lessened chance of snoring and apnea when bed time comes.
3. Smoking is another reason that people may contract sleep apnea. A person that commonly smokes usually has an increased amount of inflammation in the throat. Also, fluid retention in the upper air way is increased by a smoking habit. Both of these factors can add up to serious obstruction of the air way.
4. Some people that have sleep apnea only experience the problem when they are lying on their backs at night. To remedy this problem, a simple home project can be assembled to keep you sleeping on your side. Put a tennis ball on the inside of a regular sock, and pin it to the back of your pajama pants. When you roll onto your back in your sleep, you will be uncomfortable due to the tennis ball, and you will unconsciously correct yourself, causing you to roll back onto your side.

These are just some of the things to do when trying to avoid a sleep apnea condition. There are many other factors that weigh into sleep apnea, and some, such as a narrow air way or old age, are unpreventable. For that reason, it is important to get a proper diagnosis if you suspect that you may have sleep apnea. Speak to a health care professional to get a proper opinion.

While snoring is treated as a laughable condition by the general public, few realize the dangers that they may face if they have a serious snoring condition. When a snoring problem degenerates, it can turn into sleep apnea, a terrible sleep disorder that can cause numerous bad health effects. If you are a snorer, it’s important to find out whether or not you may have sleep apnea, as it is a treatable condition that, if left untreated, can be very damaging to your health. There are a few simple questions to ask yourself when you think you may have sleep apnea. Do you snore on a regular basis? If so, you are more likely to be afflicted with apnea. If your snoring wakes you or your partner up at night, the chance that you have sleep apnea is quite prevalent. One of the main warning signs for a case of apnea is waking up in the middle of the night, choking or gasping for air. This is due to the fact that apnea occurs when blockage in the air way occurs to such an extent that it causes you to actually stop breathing for periods of ten seconds or longer. A person with apnea can wake up a number of times throughout the evening, causing them to have a lack of good sleep and leading to irritability and an inability to concentrate when the morning comes. Severe cases of sleep apnea can result in the afflicted person waking up as many as 100 times per night. People afflicted with sleep apnea also often wake up with headaches due to a lack of oxygen, which is another symptom to consider. Rapid weight gain, memory loss, depression, changes in personality and a short attention span are other symptoms to watch for.

If these conditions sound all too familiar, you may want to look into the possibility that you have sleep apnea. One way to determine whether or not you may have apnea is to record yourself breathing while you sleep with a tape recorder. If you note frequent breathing cessations, you should consider going to a hospital for a polysomnography test. A polysomnography test consists of an overnight study in which your sleep is monitored, so that a proper diagnosis for apnea can be determined. It is a harmless test, and it is often covered by insurance carriers. Another method for pre-diagnosing sleep apnea in the household is to keep a sleep diary. Sleep diaries should be made by your bed partner, and they should consist of a notebook, pen, and flashlight. When your bed partner wakes up in the middle of the night, they should note some factors in your sleeping. They should record whether or not you are snoring, how loud your snoring is, whether you are asleep or not, and whether or not you are having trouble breathing. This simple notebook can really help you to see the extent of your problem. Sleep apnea, if untreated, can lead to an increased risk of heart problems and an increased stroke. That’s why it’s important to diagnose your problem today.