south africa sleep disorders
the constantia sleep centre
Sleep Apnoea Getting Referred How to get to us Sleep Disorders Online Sleep Assessment Contact Us Home
restful sleep
excellence in the diagnosis & treatment of sleep disorders
  What is Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
Who suffers from Obstructive Sleep Apnoea?
What are the symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
What causes Obstructive Sleep Apnoea?
Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
The Risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
sleep disorders south africa

Treatment of OSA

The treatment of OSA should be multifactorial and include the following:

  • Lifestyle changes: the most important factor in the genesis of OSA is weight and therefore weight reduction and lifestyle interventions such as a reduction of alcohol consumption, increase in daily exercise and other pro-health interventions are strongly recommended as the core intervention strategy. However, lifestyle measures alone cannot effectively treat the underlying problem and this is where effective treatments have been developed. These include oral appliances (also known as mandibular advancement splints); Continuous Positive Airways Pressure (CPAP) therapy and Surgical Interventions.

  • Oral appliances (Mandibular Advancement Splints): work by virtue of the simple fact that moving your jaw forward a short distance stops you snoring (this is true for a very large percentage of snorers).Mandibular advancement can provide immediate relief from snoring. Mandibular advancers are an alternative to CPAP, laser treatment and various surgical procedures and have been shown to be effective at treating snoring and low level upper airway obstructions associated with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) and other sleep disorders. Custom-made splints are normally fitted by a dentist or dental technician. Head & neck surgeons, thoracic consultants, consultant physicians, maxillofacial surgeons, sleep specialists and general practitioners may also be involved in the process.

  • Surgery for OSA: In a small percentage of patients with OSA, surgical and laser interventions have been found to be useful where an anatomical cause such as enlarged tonsils or an elongated soft palate have been shown to be causing obstruction to the airway.

  • Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Therapy is the most common and effective treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea. The CPAP machine adds gentle pressure to the air as it is breathed in. Rem Star ProThis prevents the airway from collapsing and stops obstruction during sleep. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is a proven and reliable treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea and other breathing related sleep disorders. At the Sleep Medicine group of sleep centres we have a team of experienced doctors and medical technologists who are leaders in the field of CPAP therapy. We provide the full range of CPAP assessment, treatment and follow up services to our patients and to fellow professionals who require access to this gold standard service. Our services involve patient education, domiciliary support and regular follow up to monitor compliance.

 
diagnosis & treatment of sleep disorders
sleep disorders