Steps to obtain relief from sleep apnea syndrome

Do victims of sleep apnea have to wait for years of research?

Do we have to wait for a new generation of doctors to be trained in sleep disorders medicine - a subject only beginning to enter the curriculum of medical schools?

Is there a way for individuals to save themselves now by taking advantage of the available resources?

Luckily, the person with sleep apnea can follow the path to remarkable relief. Therefore, despite the problems in the medical delivery system today, the motivated and persistent patient can take advantage of the recent advances in sleep disorders medicine and achieve a remarkable recovery of energy and health.

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) – the treatment recommended to most patients.

The use of a blower to deliver air under pressure to the nose in order to keep the airway open during sleep provides dramatic, overnight relief.

Since breathing is no more obstructed, the patient can sleep normally again, often for the first time in many years.

The sleep apnea symptoms fall away, revealing a patient restored to life. Additionally, there are a number of alternative and complementary strategies, including for instance, weight loss, surgery, or dental appliances which may offer relief in selected cases.

Remember: communicate with physicians and other health care providers, and make the best choices among the available treatment options.

The following suggestions enable individuals to get an experienced help.

Take a simple one-page self-test questionnaire that can alert you to consider sleep apnea as the source of your fatigue. Your roommate, bed partner or spouse can offer witness to snoring and pauses in breathing.

Tell your primary care doctor you suspect a sleep disorder. Think over what information to collect to help explain your concerns to your physician, and explain the meaning of each symptom.

1. Ask your primary care doctor to refer you to a qualified sleep disorders expert or sleep center after other medical causes have been ruled out.

2. Take an overnight sleep test, either in a sleep lab or at home: To explain the nature of normal sleep, how sleep apnea interferes with sleep, and how the sleep study reveals your problem for the physician.

3. Carefully evaluate the alternative treatments and select the one best suited to your condition. There is the range of treatments and shows how to evaluate your options for treatment.

Look for guidance on dealing with various obstacles to treatment, such as an insurer resisting payment, or technical problems that can often be readily fixed.

4. Learn how to maintain the treatment over time, and to communicate any problems with your care-givers. (Important warnings for patients and care-givers because of the risks of respiratory problems during surgery or other treatment procedures.)

5. Join a local patient education and support group - they can play an important role for patients and their families. You can also connect with others online.