Alternative therapies for sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea is characterized by the repetitive collapse of the upper airway during sleep. A variety of nonsurgical treatments for obstruct ive sleep apnea have been developed, including behavioral therapies, contin uous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices, oral appliances and medicatio ns. Presently, CPAP is considered the first-line treatment for moderate to severe sleep apnea and one of the first-line treatments for mild disease. H owever, the effectiveness of CPAP is compromised because a large proportion of patients cannot tolerate the devices. Oral appliances are one of the fi rst-line therapies for mild sleep apnea and a treatment for more severe dis ease if CPAP cannot be tolerated. Medications have thus far been unsuccessf ul as a treatment option for sleep apnea. Ail patients should be counseled to avoid sleep deprivation and sedatives (including alcohol) and to lose we ight if obese. (C) 1999 Prous Science. Ail rights reserved.