Is Apnea Surgery the Right Remedy for You?
Sleep apnea, an illness that is nearing epidemic proportions in the United States, is affecting twelve million Americans and the numbers are growing. One of the major causes of the condition is weight gain causing a build-up of fatty tissue in the upper throat area. This obstructs the passage of air and results in a stoppage of breath for up to twenty seconds or more. Over time, there is a reduction of oxygen getting into the blood system causing fatigue and sleepiness the following day. Although rare, the condition can be fatal.
There are a number of methods of treating sleep apnea. Surgery is one option and the procedures can take many forms.. The tongue twister “ovulopalatopharyngoplasty” (UPPP) surgery removes the uvula. This procedure tightens the palate and upper throat, which opens air pathways. As in all surgeries, it has risks. The most notable are swelling which can depress airways, bleeding and pain that can last several weeks. A new laser surgery reduces snoring, but limited case studies have yet to prove it reduces sleep apnea. It is less intrusive than the UPPP procedure but may also eventually prove to be less effective.
There are surgeries that open nasal passages by correcting deviated septums. Doctors often perform this procedure to enable the patient to better use a CPCP machine. Jaw surgery, considered by some to still be in the experimental stage, enlarges the lower and upper jaw. The jaw, for lack of a better description, is broken and reset to enlarge the airway.
Physicians normally consider surgery as a last resort and recommend it only when other options fail. Be as it may, many people choose surgery as a permanent cure, although this is not always the case.
The cost for such surgeries is high and the operations are not always successful. Very often, expensive medical and additional health treatments are necessary. In many cases, the sufferer of sleep apnea must relent to using a CPAP machine even after having gone through surgery. For a great many people experiencing sleep apnea, the best program really is the CPAP machine. Although new units are quite expensive, there are Internet sites that carry refurbished units selling for a fraction of the costs of new devices. A search of a few web sites will offer up a number of choices. Don’t be afraid to invest in a used unit as they are refurbished and many come with warranties, although the technology is mature and the chance of getting a defective unit is remote.
The units, new and reconditioned, come as single units or with accessories. Some new combination kits include customized headgear and humidifiers and sell for over $1,000. Used CPAPs are available for less than half the price of a new unit by shopping the Internet.
For sleep apnea sufferers, the CPAP devices can and will provide a restful night’s sleep for both the wearer and the bed partner. More importantly, the units may save the wearer’s life.
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