SLEEP DISORDER
THERAPY MANAGEMENT
If you have been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea, you should know it is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition. It is a breathing disorder where a person stops breathing during sleep because of an obstruction or blockage in the upper airway or when the brain does not send signals to the muscles that control breathing, causing a lack of oxygen. Regardless of what the severity of your AHI (Apnea Hypopnea Index), a measure used to indicate the severity of your sleep breathing disorder or the appropriate therapy selected by your doctor, behavioral modifications will ensure your treatment has successful results. Medical treatments can include CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) or an oral appliance.
Some patients find it difficult to tolerate CPAP and often give up quickly, feeling discouraged when quality of sleep actually gets worse at the beginning, as time is needed to get acclimated to wearing a mask and using the device. The good news is that once you are able to get comfortable using it, it helps you progress through the stages of sleep and greatly improves your overall quality of sleep. Once you consistently use it you can see results within 3-7 days of wearing it, making it worth the challenge of learning to sleep with it.
An oral appliance, another treatment option is found by most to be easier to use. It is generally similar to a mouth guard if you have ever played sports or a retainer if you have ever worn braces. It works by extending the lower jaw forward to open the airway or by holding the tongue in position to prevent the airway from collapsing. Although its use is only recommended for those with mild to moderate sleep apnea. The last recommended medical treatment for sleep apnea is surgery, although the success rate is less than 10% in adults. You can speak to an ear, nose and throat doctor to discuss if surgery is a good course of treatment for you.
NATURAL TREATMENTS FOR SNORING + MILD SLEEP APNEA
Weight Loss
Lifestyle Changes
Herbal Remedies
Tongue + Neck Muscle Exercises
Nasal Strips
While any one of the above natural sleep apnea treatments could help you to control snoring or manage your mild sleep apnea, those with moderate to severe sleep apnea will have the most benefit from CPAP therapy, a healthy weight loss plan and good sleep hygiene practices.
We are able to assist with CPAP Therapy Management in the following ways:
1. If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea but have not been set up on treatment, we can facilitate and get you in touch with the appropriate facilities for treatment.
2. Once you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea and set up with your machine, we can help devise a sleep plan so that you get the most benefit from your machine and create a strategy to improve sleep quality.
3. If you have been tested in the past and failed to use your machine, we can discuss getting you re-tested in case there have been changes in weight gain/loss, changes in medications or changes in medical conditions. It is recommended that you retest every 18 months - 2 years to account for these changes. Once we have your doctors recommendations for therapy we can determine the strategy for implementing a sleep plan to incorporate its' use and to device a program to foster healthier lifestyle choices to improve sleep quality.
**In some cases, you may be able to have an auto-titration at home to determine new levels needed.
NATURAL THERAPY MANAGEMENT
Sleep is the foundation for good health. Making sleep a priority provides endless health benefits, increases energy levels and improves overall quality of life. We can help you in devising a plan that includes lifestyle changes involving improving your sleep health alongside the fitness and nutrition guidelines set forth by your doctor. We can also act as a guide for alternative resources proven effective in improving sleep naturally to include:
Aromatherapy
Light Therapy
Positional Sleep Therapy
Herbal Remedies
Nutrition Deficiency Education
Relaxation Techniques
COACHING SUPPORT
If your sleep challenges revolve around behavioral, lifestyle choices consulting and coaching services are available to assist you in creating a customized plan to get your sleep back on track. This includes incorporating the use of any medical therapies provided after your sleep apnea diagnosis.