Can Sleep apnea be cured permanently?

Can Sleep apnea be cured permanently

Sleep apnea is no different, just like any common condition requiring medical attention. But is there a permanent treatment to cure sleep apnea? Is it possible for someone with obstructive sleep apnea disorder to become symptom-free? Before we debunk these puzzles, let’s understand what sleep apnea is.

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a type of condition that makes you stop breathing while you’re asleep. Your brain tries to keep you safe by waking you up long enough to breathe; this, however, keeps you from getting deep, restorative sleep. Unfortunately, this condition has the potential to become quite problematic over time. 

However, this illness is frequently controllable, especially when prescribed therapies are strictly followed.

There may be blocking your airway (obstructive sleep apnea disorder) or improper breathing control from your brain (central apnea).

The consequent lack of oxygen triggers a survival reaction that briefly wakes you up so you can start breathing again. As a result, your sleep pattern is disturbed even though that instinct keeps you alive. Because of this, getting a good night’s sleep is complex, and it may also have other adverse effects, such as straining your heart and loss of oxygen to the brain, that can create severe health issues. 

The severity of sleep apnea can range as follows:

An individual with mild sleep apnea has an AHI  (apnea-hypopnea index) between 5 and 15. This indicates that individuals experience 5 to 15 apnea or hypopnea episodes every hour. At this stage, medical professionals also take symptoms into account. They might not think it’s serious enough to treat if you don’t exhibit any other symptoms.

People with moderate sleep apnea experience between 16 and 30 episodes per hour. Eight hours of sleep results in 120 to 239 awakenings or breathing pauses.

People with severe sleep apnea wake up 30 or more times in an hour. That indicates that over eight hours of sleep, individuals stop breathing or wake up 240 or more times.

Is there a permanent cure for sleep apnea?

Removing sleep apnea is challenging as obstructive sleep apnea disorder is caused by more than an anatomical factor. A CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine or an oral appliance may be used to eliminate sleep apnea while the patient is using it. 

A CPAP machine applies pressure through a mask connected to a device used at night by applying pressure to the airway to clear it. The patient places the mask over the nose and mouth and will breathe through it. Although CPAP is a successful treatment, many people have trouble tolerating it for sleep apnea in Dubai. 

Another successful therapy typically regarded as more comfortable for patients is oral appliance therapy, which resembles a mouthguard or retainer and projects the jaw forward to expand the airway while the patient sleeps. 

Dr. Peter Baptista offers sleep apnea treatment in Dubai. The following are some surgical options for the management of obstructive sleep apnea disorder:

Palatopharyngoplasty:  

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty has been used as a surgical treatment to remodel the area of the palate. However, in the past decade, this procedure has changed dramatically from a surgery where there is trimming of the soft palate and uvula to repositioning the area muscles, conservation of structures  to improve the airway. The procedure involves removing the tonsils.

Tongue base surgery: If there is a severe enlargement of the back of the tongue due to enlarged tonsils, there may be a need to remove this area partially. 

Hypoglossal nerve stimulation: Considered state of the art, uses stimulation of the Hypoglossal nerve to open the airway. It consists of the use of a device that needs to be implanted. Dr. Peter has a great experience with this as he has been the only surgeon in Spain and one of the few in the world to have experience with this. 

Septoplasty and Turbinate Reduction: These operations widen the nasal passageway and improve airflow.

To have a better knowledge of what type of surgery should be done Dr Peter performs a sleep endoscopy under sedation called DISE that allows to know where and how the airway collapses, allowing to be specific with treatment and avoid guessing. 

Can weight loss help you get rid of sleep apnea?

No matter their condition’s severity, anyone with obstructive sleep apnea can benefit from losing weight. A 10% weight loss predicted a 26% drop in AHI in one research (or the apnea-hypopnea index, which measures sleep apnea severity). People who are overweight are more prone to have extra tissue at the back of their throats, which contributes to obstructive sleep apnea. By losing weight, a person can significantly alter their architecture, considerably reducing symptoms but, in most cases, not wholly curing sleep apnea.

Anyone who has sleep apnea faces difficulty because of how challenging it can be to lose weight. It has been demonstrated that it affects eating patterns and makes the person exhausted, which may explain why they lack the motivation to exercise. In addition, the hormones that control appetite can change when we’re sleep deprived, making us need more calories to feel satisfied than when we’re well rested. This results in weight gain. As a result, a person’s sleep apnea symptoms worsen as they become more fatigued, eat more food, and gain weight over time.

So, for many patients, starting a diet and fitness regimen is only the first step in breaking this pattern; they also need to receive effective sleep apnea treatment to have the energy and motivation to keep up their new healthy routines.

Woman doing exercise

All the above-mentioned components affect the sleep cycle, which must be addressed under expert guidance, using scientifically proven techniques to cure sleep apnea and ensure improved sleep.

Also Read : 9 Lifestyle Changes You Must Adopt To Tackle Sleep-Apnea

 Dr Peter Baptista Jardin

European Board Certified ENT Doctor In Dubai

Dr. Peter Baptista Jardin is an ENT specialist with a special interest in treating sleep apnea. He is a revered expert in Spain for performing the first ever robotic transoral surgery in 2011, and the only series of hypoglossal nerve stimulation proved revolutionary for obstructive sleep apnea treatment worldwide. He currently serves as an ENT doctor in Dubai’s Al Zahra Hospital.