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It’s becoming more and more common for people suffering from many medical conditions to turn to alternative therapies for treatment. Before trying these therapies, it’s always best to seek the advice of a health care professional, but alternative therapies can often complement or even replace traditional treatments.
It is often thought that structural problems that cause restricted airflow are the underlying cause of sleep apnea. While this is true, it’s not always a physical problem requiring corrective surgery. In some cases it can be as simple as losing weight.
By losing weight, it helps to keep the airways open, making breathing easier. Even a small amount of weight loss can make a difference in some people – as little as 10 to 15 pounds.
Homeopathic practitioners have a theory that sleep apnea is due to a lack of energy. Thus, diet is an important factor for people suffering with apnea. Reducing the amount of sugar can help, as can a reduction in foods that cause an allergic reaction.
Herbal medications are often recommended for dealing with sleep apnea. There are two common ones – lachesis and homeopathic opium. Lachesis is considered to be the best for people who are extroverted & charismatic, with a tendency to anger easily.
Another alternative therapy for sleep apnea is flower remedy or essence therapy. This uses a flower called Vervain, which helps to calm and relax people. These alternative remedies are usually available at health food stores as well as many websites.
It has been shown that sleep apnea is sometimes cause by too little serotonin in the body. The nerves that control our breathing need a certain amount, and without enough it can interrupt breathing.
It is thought that by using a serotonin precursor such as 5-HTP, it can help to minimize the symptoms of sleep apnea. It has helped many patients get a more restful night’s sleep, with fewer breaks from waking up in the middle of the night.
As with any treatments, you should always consult with your doctor before trying anything to be sure there will be no negative effects.

There are two different types of sleep apnea – obstructive (OSA) and central (CSA). There is also a third type known as mixed sleep apnea which is a combination of the other two.
OSA occurs when something blocks a person’s airway and doesn’t allow them to get the necessary amount of air while sleeping. This can be caused by a number of things. Obesity is probably the most common reason.
Overweight people have fatty tissue deposits in the neck and throat area which can cause the throat to be blocked when lying down. This restricts the airway and the airflow through it.
Other common causes of OSA include enlarged adenoids or tonsils, allergies, nasal deformities and sleeping in a poor position. Snoring is often a symptom of sleep apea as the snoring is caused by the body struggling to get the necessary amount of oxygen.
Central sleep apnea has similar symptoms but the causes are different. CSA is actually quite rare – much more so than OSA. People suffering from CSA have a problem with the timing in their brain. It regulates the rest of the body, including breathing. This timing does not “fire” properly in CSA patients, causing a lack of oxygen while sleeping.
In both types of sleep apnea, the sufferer wakes up a number of times over the course of a night, often gasping or choking for air. These interruptions in sleep can happen up to 100 times a night, causing a lack of quality rest.
This can lead to headaches and sore throats the next day from a lack of oxygen and the body’s fighting to get more. There are many other problems that result, such as drowsiness, irritability and lack of concentration.
Sleep apnea sufferers can be affected in the workplace, in their personal relationship and other areas where the emotional and physical drain can cause problems.
High blood pressure is another common result of sleep apnea and if it is not treated it can ultimately lead to a stroke or heart disease. Anyone who is showing signs of these symptoms should consult with their doctor for further advice, and more thorough tests if the doctor deems it necessary.

Sleep apnea surgery is one of the most controversial subjects in sleep medicine. There are heated debates within the sleep community as well as in online forums and support groups. Sleep apnea surgery is definitely not for everyone, for some, it can be a life-changing experience. Here are 5 important issues that you must be aware of before considering any form of sleep apnea surgery:1. Does sleep apnea surgery work?Yes, but only when done properly. Just like with CPAP or dental devices, if you don’t use it properly or use it at all, it won’t work. One of the most common misconceptions about sleep apnea surgery is the relatively low success rate of the uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) procedure, which is often quoted at 40%. But performing this operation is like bypassing only one blocked heart vessel when you have 3 other vessels that are blocked. For some strange reason, ENTs are overly obsessed with the soft palate, since this is where snoring usually comes from and we have the most research and procedures for the soft palate.We now know that if you address the entire upper airway together (nose, soft palate, tongue), then your success rates are much better, approaching 80%. Why only 80%? There’s only so much you can do with the soft tissues within the small space within smaller jaws (which is the main anatomic reason for sleep apnea). The more aggressive you are, the higher the success rate, but the more chance of pain and complications. If you go to the next level and enlarge your jaws (upper and lower), then success rates can reach 90 to 95%. To put things into perspective, if you bypassed everything with a tracheotomy (placing a breathing tube below your voice box), then you’ll have a 100% “cure”, but obviously, this is not a very practical option.One question you must ask then, is, what’s the meaning of success? In surgery, one common definition is that the final AHI (apnea hypopnea index) on a formal sleep study drops greater than 50% of the original and the final number has to be less than 20. One of the main criticisms of sleep apnea surgery is that even if “successful”, you may still have mild sleep apnea. Surgeons will argue that it’s better than not using CPAP at all. 2. Not All Surgeries Are The SameThere are probably dozens of procedures for sleep apnea from various nasal, soft palate and tongue operations to skeletal framework procedures. These can range from minimally invasive to major surgery. The problem is that by definition, they’ll all work to a certain degree. For example, procedures for a stuffy nose have been shown to “cure” sleep apnea in 10% of patients. But for the most part, none of these options by themselves have very good success rates.The key is to examine the upper airway for each individual and figure out where the obstruction is and take care of it simultaneously. Most people have more than one area of obstruction. Surgeons at Stanford have about a 75 to 80% success rate with soft palate and tongue base procedures. This is called multi-level surgery for sleep apnea. You have to look at the airway from the tip of the nose all the way to the voice box.3. There’s No Cure for Sleep ApneaUnless we all undergo tracheotomies, there’s no way to prevent breathing pauses at night. Modern humans’ upper airway anatomy is thought to be predisposed to breathing problems at night, which only gets worse as we age. I talk about why this problem has gotten much worse in recent years in my book, Sleep, Interrupted. All of us are on a continuum, where various factors (anatomy, age, weight, inflammation, etc.) contribute to forces that make our tongues and palates to collapse. The older we get, we’ll either gain weight, which narrows our breathing passageways, or our throat tissues will sag and collapse easier.Surgery will shift the line of this continuum downwards, but it won’t bring it down completely. This is why it’s important to incorporate a healthy diet and lifestyle and exercise regimen into any sleep apnea treatment regimen. For most people, lowering the numbers significantly will make you feel much better. But sometimes, the numbers will go down dramatically, but you may not feel any better. This just goes to show that there may be other issues besides sleep apnea that have to be addressed. You’ve had sleep apnea for years or decades. Just by fixing your sleep apnea won’t immediately fix problems that can arise from sleep apnea, such as hormonal problems, weight gain, or memory problems and brain fog.4. Surgery is the Last Resort, But Don’t Rule It OutAdmittedly, there are many people who rush to surgery prematurely, but there are also many others that aren’t even offered surgery due to misconceptions by physicians. There are also many patients that are turned off by all the conflicting information that’s available on the internet. Before you even think about surgery, make sure you’ve tried or considered all the other options thoroughly. Most people who fail CPAP do so because of poor counseling, support and followup by the medical system. Just like everything else with life, your chances of success depends on which doctors you see. The follow-up and support offered by  your CPAP equipment vendor can also play an important role in whether or not you’ll benefit from CPAP. The same issues also apply with dental devices for sleep apnea. This is why it’s important to educate yourself about all the treatment options, and not to give up too easily. Too many people give up at this point, and don’t consider any further treatments. Surround yourself with a group of trusted doctors and professionals that forms a team. Use their expertise and guidance to find a way to make things work. If nothing works for you, don’t rule out surgery just for the sake of avoiding surgery. Learn and educate yourself about surgery before rejecting it.5. How to Find the Right SurgeonFinding the right surgeon for your sleep apnea condition can be challenging. Everyone claims to specialize in snoring and sleep apnea surgery. Who are you to believe?First of all, find someone who’s comfortable performing a wide range of procedures in all the three areas of the upper airway (nose, soft palate and tongue). Are they familiar with the minimally invasive procedures as well as the standard options? No everyone will be an expert at all the procedures, but it’s important to know about all the other options as well as well as to make appropriate referrals when necessary.There are a variety of “minimally invasive” procedures out there, especially for the soft palate, but these procedures have to be offered very selectively. Even if successful initially, is your surgeon prepared for relapsed that are likely years later? Is the goal of surgery only to cover up the snoring, or will it treat the underlying anatomic causes? If your surgeon recommends palatal surgery “just to see,” without addressing the entire upper airway from the nose to the tongue, go for a second opinion. If you do decide to undergo a palatal procedure (with or without tonsillectomy), be prepared for a 60% failure rate, which means that the tongue needed to be addressed as well. Sometimes, more needs to be done to the soft palate or the nose has to be addressed. Everyone is different, and the treatment recommendations have to be tailored to the individual.

A person’s chances of developing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can depend on a number of factors, some of which are beyond their control. When these are combined with other potential causes such as being overweight, drinking or smoking it can greatly increase the risk.
One of the factors that is somewhat beyond our control is age. Sleep apnea is more common is people over the age of 30, with the highest percentages in males over 40 years old.
It is more commonly found among men than women. It is thought that between 12 and 20 million Americans are affected by sleep apnea, ranging from mild to severe. Breaking that down by gender, roughly 24% of American men suffer from sleep apnea compared to only 9% of women.
Post-menopausal women are more likely to be affected by it and the percentages between men and women become much closer after women have gone through menopause.
There have been many studies done to examine the difference between male and female sufferers. Some of these studies show that men are 2 to 3 times more likely to suffer from sleep apnea, while other studies have shown them 5 to 6 times more likely to deal with it than women.
Genetics does play a part in sleep apnea but it is not really known how large a part. If you have a family history of sleep apnea – in either men or women – it is more likely that you will develop the disorder at some point in your life.
Race is another factor that appears to play a role. African Americans as well as Hispanics and Pacific Islanders are more likely to be afflicted than Caucasians. They are still affected by it but in lower percentages.
Any type of medical condition that affects your breathing can ultimately contribute to sleep apnea. Health conditions such as Marfan’s syndrome or Down syndrome that can lead to abnormalities in the face and head – known as craniofacial problems – lead to a much greater chance of sleep apnea.

Snoring is often considered a comical problem but a serious snoring problem can be a sign of a more serious condition. A snoring problem can worsen and become a case of sleep apnea which is a serious condition that has a number of bad effects on one’s health.
Anyone who snores regularly should check with their doctor to find out if it is a symptom of sleep apnea. Apnea is treatable, but if it’s left unchecked it can cause serious health problems.
If you think you might be suffering from sleep apnea, there are several questions you should ask. Do you snore regularly? If so, you are more likely dealing with sleep apnea than if you only snore occasionally.
Does your snoring wake your partner at night? If so, it’s a sign that the snoring is quite loud which again can be a symptom of sleep apnea.
Do you wake up choking and gasping for air in the middle of the night? This is one of the main indicators of sleep apnea, because apnea is caused by a blockage of airflow to the extent that you stop breathing for a period of 10 seconds or longer. You may not realize this is happening yourself, either – it is often noticed first by your partner.
Do you wake up in the morning with a headache or sore throat? This is another symptom of sleep apnea – headaches can be caused by a lack of oxygen due to the stoppages in breathing in the night and a sore throat is often caused by serious snoring.
If these symptoms sound familiar, you should check with your doctor to get their professional advice. If they determine that sleep apnea is in fact a possibility, they will usually send you for a polysomnography test.
This is an overnight sleep study where your sleep patterns are monitored so a complete diagnosis can be made. Things such as your heart rate, eye movements and breathing patterns will be monitored for irregularities.
Sleep apnea can lead to more serious problems such as an increased risk of heart disease and stroke, so it’s important that it is diagnosed as early as possible.

If it’s left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to other serious heart-related health problems such as hypertension, high blood pressure, arrhythmia, hypercapnia, stroke and heart disease. The link between heart disease and sleep apnea is still not fully understood, however.
People who are suffering from heart problems tend to have a high number of occurrences of sleep apnea. However, it isn’t fully clear if the sleep apnea is the direct cause of the heart disease.
One thing that is clear is that someone who is suffering from sleep apnea has a much greater chance of developing hypertension. It has been shown that people who are suffering from both sleep apnea and high blood pressure show considerable improvement when treated for both. The same goes for sleep apnea and heart disease.
When a sleep apnea episode happens at night, the blood pressure increases because of a drop in the oxygen levels in the body. When this occurs, the brain tells the blood vessels to “tighten up” in order to get more oxygen to the brain and the heart, followed by the rest of the body.
The stoppages of breathing at night can last between 1 and 4 minutes, causing a large amount of stress to the heart. This also tends to carry forward into the daytime while awake. The mechanisms triggered by low oxygen levels in the body continue to operate during the day.
Sleep apnea sufferers have a 2.3 times greater chance of developing congestive heart failure than those who aren’t dealing with it. Those suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have a 1.5 times greater chance of having a stroke.
Sleep apnea can also contribute to more complications for anyone suffering from atrial fibrillation, a condition where the upper part of the heart (the atrium) is beating out of sync with the lower part (the ventricle).
To treat atrial fibrillation, the heart is cardioverted, meaning the atrium is reset to make it beat in sync with the ventricle. Over 50% of the people who have this procedure done suffer a relapse of the atrial fibrillation. In sleep apnea sufferers, that number has been shown to increase to 80%.
Regular doctor visits and following their treatment recommendations are critical to anyone suffering from both these health problems.

Many studies on sleep patterns have been done throughout the years. Sleep experts say we need between six and eight hours of sleep to feel rested and function at our best during the day. For some, this simply means going to bed at a reasonable time. However, there are people who cannot feel rested no matter what time they go to bed because they snore, share the bed with someone who snores, or suffer from sleep apnea. Losing an hour or more of sleep a night because of snoring can add up over time. In the case of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the consequences can affect the health of the individual.

OSA is a condition in which an individual stops breathing due to their airway collapsing during sleep and blocking their breathing for up to ten seconds each time. When the OSA is serious, this cessation can occur more than 30 times an hour. These cessations in breathing cause the blood oxygen levels to decrease dramatically. Lower oxygen levels in the blood raise the threat of heart attack, high blood pressure and stroke.

Causes of Sleep Apnea and Snoring

As we sleep, our muscles are relaxed. When the tongue and throat muscles relax, they can block the airway. A partial collapse of the airway results in the sound we call snoring. A complete collapse of the airway cuts off breathing and results in an apneic event. When this happens, you will wake up and begin breathing again because your muscles are no longer relaxed. This may happen as little as five times every hour, or as many as 30 or more times an hour. Obviously, your sleep pattern is going to be affected.

People who are obese, smoke, or consume alcohol have a higher chance of snoring and a greater risk of OSA. Men are more likely to suffer from OSA than women are.

Oral Appliances

If you suffer from snoring or have been diagnosed by a sleep apnea specialist, you may find treatment through oral appliance therapy. Oral appliances are custom-fitted for each patient to minimize the effects of snoring or sleep apnea in a variety of ways. By correcting the position of the jaw, or repositioning the jaw, the tongue and soft tissue will no longer interfere with your airway. One of the most effective oral appliances is the SomnoDent mandibular advancement splint (MAS), manufactured by SomnoMed.

SomnoDent MAS

The SomnoDent MAS is worn over the teeth, much like a sports mouth guard, as you sleep. It pushes the jaw forward from its natural position and, like other oral appliances, keeps the tongue in position and tightens the soft tissue to keep your airway open. Studies have shown that over 60% of patients who wear SomnoDent MAS experience a complete halt in OSA, and those who still have symptoms have a 50% decrease in the severity of their sleep apnea. Episodes of snoring decreased 43% in studies and lowered the volume of snoring (something your bed partner would probably be grateful for).

SomnoDent MAS features a patented â??fin-couplingâ? component which allows the wearer to speak and drink as they normally would.

If you suffer from snoring or believe you may have obstructive sleep apnea and are interested in finding out if SomnoDent MAS by SomnoMed is right for you, please contact Dr. Ira L. Shapira at the Snoring and Sleep Apnea Treatment Center for a free consultation.

Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that occurs when a person stops breathing repeatedly while sleeping.  Sleep apnea can affect anyone at any age, including children.  Risk factors include being overweight, male gender, being over forty years of age, having a family history of sleep apnea, having a larger neck size, or having larger tonsils.  If left untreated sleep apnea could lead to hypertension, stroke, or heart problems such as a heart attack, heart failure, or irregular heart beat.  Sleep apnea can cause you to be less productive at work or school and increases your chances of having a car accident because of your sleep loss.  There are two types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.  Before diagnosing sleep apnea you must understand what it is.  Sleep apnea occurs when someone has completely stopped breathing for 10 seconds or more while they are sleeping.  Sometimes these apnea episodes completely wake a person, other times they just bring someone to a shallow level of sleep from a deep level.  This interrupted sleep may not be noticed by the person with the sleep apnea, instead it may alert your bed partner.  There are two types of sleep apnea: central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea.  Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain doesn’t send the signal to breathe to the breathing muscles.  This is more common in people with brain injuries or heart diseases.  Obstructive sleep apnea means the airway has actually been obstructed by your tongue going backwards or enlarged tonsils.  Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder.If you have symptoms of sleep apnea your doctor may ask you to have a sleep apnea test done at a sleep disorder center.  This test would be done after a physical exam and medical history.  People who have sleep apnea in their family history are at a higher risk for sleep apnea themselves.  A sleep study (polysomnogram) is a multiple-component test that electronically transmits and records specific physical activities while you are sleeping.  In a polysomnogram an EEG is used to record brain wave activity, an EMG records such things as teeth grinding, an EOG to record eye movements which tells the sleep stage you are in, an EKG for your heart rate, a nasal airflow sensor to record airflow, and a snore microphone records your snoring activity.  All of these results are then read by a sleep specialist and given to your doctor to determine if you have sleep apnea.If you have a mild case of obstructive sleep apnea you may be able to fix the problem by doing some behavioral changes.  These changes include changing your position while sleeping; sometimes apneas occur only in a certain position which is usually lying flat on your back.  Obesity is a contributive factor to obstructive sleep apnea.  Losing 10% of your body weight would improve your sleep apnea.  Some people with sleep apnea find this hard to do because the sleep loss leaves them too tired to exercise; in turn making them gain more weight which worsens the sleep apnea.  If the apnea is treated a different way it usually leads to people being able to lose weight since they won’t be as tired.