Sleep apnoea treatment
1. Positive airway pressure therapy (non-invasive)
- CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) delivers constant airflow to people while they sleep. CPAP is often referred to as “the gold standard” treatment option and is the most commonly prescribed.
- APAP (automatic positive airway pressure) automatically varies its air pressure throughout the night in response to a person’s needs, making treatment more comfortable.
- Bilevel therapy is typically used when someone needs a higher pressure for effective treatment.
2. Oral appliance therapy (non-invasive)
A mandibular repositioning device (MRD) is a custom-fitted mouthpiece that holds your jaw in a forward position while you sleep to expand the space behind your tongue. This helps keep your upper airway open, preventing apnoeas and snoring. They’re proven effective for people with mild and moderate obstructive sleep apnoea,1 but might also be prescribed to patients with severe OSA who cannot tolerate CPAP.
3. Surgery (invasive)
There are several surgical procedures that can improve the exact area of obstruction in patients’ upper respiratory tracts. “Often it takes a combination of procedures to achieve success,” according to the American Sleep Apnoea Association. And as with all invasive surgical procedures, there is the risk of negative side effects.
4. Weight loss
In some patients with milder forms of sleep apnoea, losing weight can help reduce apnoeas and alleviate their symptoms.
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