Can sleep apnea be cured?

by Greg Buckingham
(Rototua)

Can sleep apnea be cured? I am 27 years of age and my ex partners have all told me I stop breathing when I sleep and it scares them.

I've been told this since I was seventeen and haven't really discussed it with anyone till know as I can relate to some of the side affects of it.

I have smoked since I was seventeen and wonder if that is the reason for this I have been thinking of giving up and know I think I have my reason to so tomorrow I will stop.

Answer

Sleep apnea can be cured only with weight loss, if the cause is, of course, obesity. Losing weight has cured many overweight people of this condition.

In general, sleep apnea is treated (not cured!) with a lot of treatments, so you don't need to panic.

Remember that sleep apnea will worsen if you don't start a treatment. And you will need the treatment for the rest of your life.

Just keep in mind that obesity is not the only cause of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Nor even the most common cause of OSA. One needs to consider that there is the formation and size of the mouth, jaw, throat, muscle tone, medications, other health conditions.

However, you didn't tell me if you snore in sleep or not. This is important, because there is another type of sleep apnea, named central sleep apnea, where the patient stop breathing in sleep because the respiratory center from the brain stops working during sleep.

If you have central sleep apnea, only a sleep specialist can help you.

So, the first step in treating your sleep problem is to speak with your doctor, ask to take a sleep test, and then follow the doctor's advice according to your sleep results.

If you snore (or a mild to moderate case of obstructive sleep apnea), you can treat your sleep problem at home with a bumper belt or antisnore shirt.

However, you should know that if you have a severe case of sleep apnea, CPAP machine is the key to a better sleep.

You can learn more about sleep apnea treatments here.

Keep in mind that if you wake up feeling better after the bumper belt or CPAP treatment, you still have sleep apnea. So, if you think you are cured and you can now smoke more, drinking coffee, or have an unhealthy life...you are wrong.

It's like in diabetes...you need to change your life. Quitting smoking will be the first step.

Regarding smoking and sleep apnea...Read this page about causes of sleep apnea, and you will see that smoking is one of the cause for sleep apnea.

Here are some Sleep Hygiene Measures to help your body with sleep apnea, before going to the doctor:

• Keep a regular sleep-wake schedule, including weekends.


• Avoid caffeinated beverages after lunch.


• Avoid smoking, especially in the evening.


• Avoid alcohol near bedtime.


• Restrict sleep to amount needed to feel rested.


• Do not go to bed hungry.


• Adjust bedroom environment.


• Do not engage in planning the next day’s activities at bedtime.


• Exercise regularly for about 20 to 30 minutes, preferably 4 to 5 hours before bedtime and not immediately before bedtime.

I hope it helps. Don't be afraid to comment back.

Remy Thierry
Founder of Sleep Apnea Guide

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