• Home

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Sleep apnea

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome; Apnea - sleep apnea syndrome

Treatment:

The goal is to keep the airway open to prevent apneas during sleep.

Weight management (or intentional weight loss) and avoiding alcohol and sedatives at bedtime may relieve sleep apnea in some individuals. If these measures are unsuccessful in stopping sleep apnea, continuous positive airway pressure ( CPAP ), a form of mechanical breathing assistance that involves the use of a specially-designed mask worn over the nose or nose and mouth at night, may be prescribed.

Mechanical devices inserted into the mouth at night to keep the jaw forward may help relieve symptoms due to mild to moderate cases.

Surgery to remove excess tissue at the back of the throat (uvulopalatopharyngoplasty or UPPP), to remove enlarged tonsils or adenoids ( tonsillectomy ), or to create an opening in the trachea to bypass the obstructed airway during sleep ( tracheostomy ), may be helpful if anatomical causes are present. In some people, surgery to remove blockage of the nose or upper throat may relieve sleep apnea.

A tonsillectomy may be all that is necessary in children to cure obstructive sleep apnea.

Support Groups:

Attending a support group with others who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea or related disorders may help persons adjust to their disease and adapt to the lifestyle changes necessary to treat it.

Expectations (prognosis):

When treated correctly, obstructive sleep apnea may be controlled. However, many persons are unable or unwilling to tolerate CPAP, and the syndrome continues.

Complications:

• Hypertension
• Right-sided heart failure
• Abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia)
• Excessive carbon dioxide levels (hypercapnia)
• Sleep deprivation
• Stroke
• Heart disease

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if you have excessive daytime sleepiness, or if you or your family notice symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea. If you have this condition, call if symptoms do not improve with treatment or if new symptoms develop.

Decreased consciousness , extreme somnolence , hallucinations, personality changes, and persistent confusion can indicate an emergency.

• Review Date: 8/7/2006
• Reviewed By: David A. Kaufman, M.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.