TREATMENTS

Treatments for Snoring and OSA can be categorized in the following way:

• Lifestyle changes
• Body position
• Nasal sprays
• Nasal valve dilators
• Dental appliances
• Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
• Surgery

Treatment must be tailored to the individual and often requires a combination of the above.

How Do I Know If My Treatment Is Working?

• You are more alert and energetic during the day,
• You wake up refreshed,
• Your partner no longer complains of your snoring.

For information on the effects of various treatments for snoring and OSA, click here.

Factors That May Affect the Treatment

• Weight gain
• Heavy alcohol consumption
• Allergies and sinus infections
• Continued smoking
• Poor sleep hygiene
• Stress

What Kind of Follow-Up Should I Have?

If you just snore and are making lifestyle changes, you may need medical follow-up to help you with a nicotine addiction, alcoholism, or obesity.

If you have OSA, there is a chance that the condition will get worse. This is especially true for patients who have Moderately Severe OSA (an AHI of greater than 30). When untreated, 1/3 of these patients get worse or suffer cardiovascular complications within 2 years.

If you are on treatment for OSA with CPAP, you should have a check-up with your medical specialist at least twice in the first year to insure that the CPAP is working properly and that your condition has improved. Thereafter, you should be followed at least on an annual basis. The respiratory therapist who set you up on the CPAP should also be following up with you to insure that the pump is working properly and that the mask is fitting properly.

If you are on treatment for OSA with a dental appliance, you should have a check-up with your medical specialist at least twice a year in the first year to insure that the dental appliance is working properly and that your condition has improved. You should also see the dentist who did the fitting 2 or more times in the first year to address dental issues. Thereafter, you should be followed at least on an annual basis by the doctor and the dentist.

If you had surgery for your snoring or OSA problem, you should have a check-up with the surgeon within the first month after surgery and at least once more after that during the first year. This is to insure that the treatment has worked and that no further treatment is required.