The Greek word "apnea" literally means "without breath." So,
in a nutshell sleep apnea means sleeping without breathing.

People with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly
during their sleep,
sometimes hundreds of times during the night and often for a
minute or longer.

Untreated, sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure and
other cardiovascular disease, memory problems, weight gain,
impotency, and headaches. Moreover, untreated sleep apnea
may be responsible for job impairment and motor vehicle
crashes.

There are three solutions used effectively to reduce teh
effects of sleep apnea.

1. Physical or Mechanical Therapy

Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the most
common effective treatment for sleep apnea. In this
procedure, the patient wears a mask over the nose during
sleep, and pressure from an air blower forces air through
the nasal passages. The air pressure is adjusted so that it
is just enough to prevent the throat from collapsing during
sleep. The pressure is constant and continuous. Nasal CPAP
prevents airway closure while in use, but apnea episodes
return when CPAP is stopped or it is used improperly.

2. Surgery

Some patients with sleep apnea may need surgery. Although
several surgical procedures are used to increase the size of
the airway, none of them is completely successful or
without
risks. More than one procedure may need to be tried before
the patient realizes any benefits.

Some of the more common procedures include removal of
adenoids and tonsils (especially in children), nasal polyps
or other growths, or other tissue in the airway and
correction of structural deformities. Younger patients seem
to benefit from these surgical procedures more than older
patients.

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is a procedure used to
remove excess tissue at the back of the throat (tonsils,
uvula, and part of the soft palate). The success of this
technique may range from 30 to 60 percent. The long-term
side effects and benefits are not known, and it is difficult
to predict which patients will do well with this procedure.

Somnoplasty is a procedure that uses radiowaves to reduce
the size of some airway structures such as the uvula and the
back of the tongue. This technique is being investigated as
a treatment for apnea.

3. Non-specific Therapy

Behavioral changes are an important part of the treatment
program, and in mild cases behavioral therapy may be all
that is needed. Overweight persons can benefit from losing
weight. Even a 10 percent weight loss can reduce the number
of apneic events for most patients. Individuals with apnea
should avoid the use of alcohol and sleeping pills, which
make the airway more likely to collapse during sleep and
prolong the apneic periods. In some patients with mild sleep
apnea, breathing pauses occur only when they sleep on their
backs. In such cases, using pillows and other devices that
help them sleep in a side position may be helpful.

These three solutions are information on what can be done to
reduce sleep apnea effect, to better your knowledge in this
area.. To really cure your sleep apnea, you would still
need to consult a doctor.

How important is a good night sleep worth to you?