Sleep apnea is a prevalent health condition, which may stop your breathing for a short while in the middle of sleep. Unfortunately, people with sleep apnea are unable to take in adequate oxygen. Consequently, they wake up from their slumber, gasping for breath. Some people are unaware of their sleep apnea, but timely diagnosis is vital as sleep apnea may have serious health complications. Here, we will address some popular treatment options for sleep apnea. 

Popular treatment options for sleep apnea

1. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine
During sleep apnea, the muscles in the throat tend to relax. Consequently, the soft tissues curtail the airway. To prevent that from happening, the doctor might recommend a CPAP or continuous positive airway pressure machine. It is one of the most prevalent and reliable methods of treating sleep apnea. The device does a great job at pushing a steady air stream via a mask, which you will wear while sleeping. The mask helps keep the airway open. Wearing this mask would lower your snoring and better your quality of sleep. 

2. Bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP or BPAP)
This device is used in people who cannot adapt to CPAP. Alternatively, doctors may even recommend a BiPAP machine for central sleep apnea patients who need special assistance to tackle the weak breathing pattern. The machine will automatically adapt to the pressure while you are asleep. So, it will offer more pressure when you breathe in and less while you breathe out. 

3. Adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV)
ASV is one of the more recently approved devices, which comprehends your regular breathing pattern, and stores this information in an in-built computer. Once you are asleep, the machine utilizes pressure to keep your breathing pattern normal and prevent any irregular pauses in breathing. ASV works better than most other positive airway pressure devices. It can be used to cure complex sleep apnea in most people. However, ASV might not be recommended for people with advanced heart failure and central sleep apnea. 

4. Oral appliances
Even though the above-listed PAP machines are incredibly reliable and popular treatment options for sleep apnea, some people still prefer mandibular advancement devices or oral appliances. Most of the mouthpieces are designed to get your jaw forward and open the breathing airway. There are also others, which help hold your tongue in place.  

5. Weight loss
Approximately 70 percent of people with sleep apnea are obese or overweight. This is the reason health experts recommend weight loss as an effective measure to cure sleep apnea. Some formal studies prove how weight loss results in diminished snoring and reduced sleep apnea and hypopnea incidents during slumber. 

6. Nasal decongestants
In case of mild sleep apnea or snoring, nasal decongestants can prove to be incredibly effective. However, doctors may even recommend surgery to better the airflow via the nose in some instances.