A diagnosis of sleep apnea is difficult to take. Ordinarily, you have two choices when you are diagnosed:
- Find the best treatment for you (CPAP, Dental Device, or Other)
- Risk going without treatment. This is tricky because sleep apnea can lead to so many other issues, both medical and emotional.
There is a third option for dealing with your sleep issues that many people may overlook. That option is treating the root cause.
What is the cause of your sleep apnea?
Some patients have sleep apnea as a result of something that is out of their control. Examples of these causes include
- Allergies
- A narrow throat
- Excessive growth
- A round head
While there may be ways to treat these root causes, they probably require medical intervention. Other causes are treatable by the patient and do not necessarily mean paying expensive doctor bills or dealing with CPAP machines for the rest of your life.
Which obstructive sleep apnea causes can be treated?
- Weight
More than half of all patients diagnosed with sleep apnea are overweight or obese. By losing weight, you will decrease your neck size and most likely cure your sleep problems.
- Alcohol
Overusing alcohol can cause obstructive sleep apnea. By stopping alcohol use, even for a few days, you should see a marked difference in sleep quality. If you find it difficult to stop drinking, you should seek help. Your physician can offer support, or you can reach out to your local Alcoholics Anonymous group for help.
- Tobacco use
Smoking – similar to alcohol – we all know is terrible for our health, but quitting is harder than it seems. Quitting smoking can help your breathing quality and may reduce or solve your sleep apnea problems.
- Deviated septum or overbite
A deviated septum or an overbite can lead to sleep apnea as both restrict your airway. You may find a cure for either issue by speaking with your dentist, orthodontist, or ENT doctor.
So, sleep apnea can go away if your root causes are fixable. For ways to make your sleep apnea more manageable, check back on this blog each week or reach out to our practitioners at 1-800-758-7571
