Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment in Texas

Obstructive Sleep Apnea – An Introduction Many children and adults suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) - a common sleep disorder. Partial or complete blockage of the upper airway happens when the soft tissue at the end of the throat collapses and disrupts the person’s breathing. In order to continue breathing normally, the person gets up slightly and gasps for air. Sometimes this procedure occurs without the knowledge of the person. Obstructive sleep apnea treatment in Texas is best sought from a specialist in this field. What Are the Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea? • Excessive day time tiredness and depressionrn• Inappropriate timings for sleeping • Frequent arousals to gasp for airrn• Disturbances during sleep with tossing and turningrn• Personality change, depression and short temperrn• Recurrent morning headaches and high blood pressurern• Loud snoring and sniffing • Perspiring profoundly during sleeprn• Difficulty to concentrate and memorize on daily activitiesrn• Sexual inability (impotence) Treatment Options for Obstructive Sleep Apnea There are many treatment choices for obstructive sleep apnea depending on the severity of symptoms. These comprise oral appliances, positive pressure therapy, positional therapy and surgical treatment. To treat moderate OSA, oral appliances including mandibular advance devices and tongue-retaining devices are used. Correct positioning of the body during sleep is another sleep apnea treatment. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is considered an effective treatment even though the therapy has some side-effects such as nasal congestion, chest pain, unbalanced swallowing of air and dry eyes. Surgical corrections of obstructive sleep apnea are possible if the person is affected with moderate to severe conditions, irregular daytime sleepiness, airway blockade/anomalies or related medical conditions such as high blood pressure. Surgical remedies are also recommended if non-surgical therapies such as weight loss and avoidance of sedatives and alcohol are not effective. Some of the surgical treatments for OSA are: Tonsillectomy – This treatment is done commonly for children affected by OSA. Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) – Patients with extra soft tissue of the palate and uvula are recommended UPPP. Tonsils are removed and pharynx walls are tightened in the process. This helps to eliminate obstruction in the upper airway; thus snoring is also reduced along with obstructive sleep apnea. However, the chance of the symptoms reappearing in 5 years is very common. Tracheostomy – In tracheostomy, an incision is made on the lower neck and a tube is placed through this opening to provide an airway. However, it is not widely used for OSA because of long term difficulties and risks. Hyoid myotomy - Widening of airway is possible by pulling the tongue base frontward. Mostly this procedure is performed along with UPPP and genioglossus advancement. Maxillomandibular advancement (MMA): In this treatment the upper and low jaw are cut and placed forward to enlarge the airway and hold airway muscles tightly. Success rate of the procedure is 90%. Distraction osteogenesis: Airway obstruction among toddlers and neonates are treated by distraction osteogenesis. This treatment is recommended for children with severe bone abnormalities such as Treacher Collins syndrome, hemifacial microsomia and Pierre Robin sequence. To find the best treatment for OSA, consult an experienced and certified plastic surgeon specialized in sleep apnea treatments. Choose an AAAASF accredited plastic surgery facility for obstructive sleep apnea treatment in Texas to get a guaranteed result.