Med Page Today
recently reported that proper and effective weight loss effort is the best way
to treat sleep apnea.
In the
American College of Physicians’ published paper, researchers determined the best
ways to fight sleep apnea problem by reviewing studies published between 1966
and 2012. Sleep apnea, a condition wherein a person briefly stops breathing
during sleep, can lead to cardiovascular disease, daytime sleepiness and other
medical issues. According to Med Page Today, sleep apnea is an increasing major
medical issue in the US because of the rising rates of obesity.
In a
conclusion of the published paper, researchers say that an
obese person with or without diabetes may effectively reduce signs and symptoms
of obstructive sleep apnea through some intensive weight loss programs.
However,
for those patients who are not overweight or weight loss interventions fail to
fight sleep apnea, other methods should be tried such as continuous positive
airway pressure (CPAP), according to researchers. CPAP therapy requires
patients to wear a mask over their face when they sleep to help open their
airway.
A report
published in the Annals of Internal Medicine says that the use of mandibular
advancement devices is the next in line if CPAP therapy proves not effective to
a patient. These devices work by adjusting the jaw during sleep to help avoid
apnea.
Overall,
the study concluded that surgical interventions and medication were less
effective options with inconsistent and unproven results.
