Loud snoring and disrupted sleep can be the side effects of sleep apnea. Such symptoms affect not only patients but also their partners. Stats suggest about one-third of the population in Singapore is affected by this sleep disorder. What causes this health issue? Blocked airways are the main reason. Sleep apnoea, or more precisely, obstructive sleep apnoea, dents the quality of life of the patients, making them wake up multiple times at night with a sense of choking. Because of sleep deprivation, they often feel tired and clueless in the mornings. Headaches also become a common phenomenon. However, things don’t stop at this. Sleep apnea patients are exposed to several other health hazards, such as heart attacks, diabetes, and more. If you are overweight, you need to be more watchful. You are vulnerable to this disease.

Or do you suspect that you have already developed it? Please check with an ENT doctor immediately. An ear, nose, and throat expert can treat this condition to improve your daily life. Here is a quick look at their methods.

CPAP procedure

After diagnosis, you can be recommended to use a CPAP machine with a mask at night. These devices help expand the nasal cavity so that patients breathe properly during sleep. Snoring will also not happen. The use of machines along with healthy lifestyle choices, such as exercises, reduced calorie intake, and weight management, can significantly restore your life. CPAP machines offer immediate results, and lifestyle modifications prepare you for a long-term positive effect.

Surgeries

Some patients may not benefit from CPAP machines. Doctors can recommend soft tissue surgery to alleviate their medical condition. Soft tissues in the throat can hinder the smooth circulation of oxygen in the airways. Hence, they can perform surgery to remodel or remove them. Once the patient’s breathing path widens, they can sleep comfortably without choking. Do you wonder what these soft tissues are? These can be adenoids or tonsils located at the end of the throat. However, there can be other surgical options, too. For example, they can do septoplasty to reposition the deviated septum, the line of cartilage and bone dividing the nostrils. Only your ENT can determine the best method after analysing your condition.

Followups

Once the treatment has started, you must meet your ENT on a scheduled date to help them monitor your progress. Ongoing care and guidance can increase the success rate of a medical intervention. Plus, doctors can modify certain things for a better effect depending on your response to a treatment plan.

Please don’t delay your treatment because sleep apnea can tremendously affect your daily life. Without proper attention, it can permeate other parts of your health, making you vulnerable to high BP, heart attacks, strokes, etc. Your oral health can also be compromised. At the same time, loud snoring can destroy your partner’s sleep, disrupting your social life. Before things go out of hand, seeking medical help is crucial. An ENT can efficiently diagnose and treat your sleep disorder with new methods and tools. You can trust them to reduce your stress related to this disease while navigating you through a safe recovery.