Tips for Treating Patients With Sleep Apnea

By Kimberli A. Harward and Lorie Speer, RDH, MSDH

In the United States, sleep apnea affects approximately 5.9 million adults.¹ The three types of sleep apnea are obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in which the airway is blocked, either partially or fully, usually when the tongue and/or soft palate collapses against the back of the throat during sleep; central sleep apnea in which the brain does not signal the muscles to breathe; and complex sleep apnea, a combination of the two conditions. OSA is the most common form.² Positive airway pressure therapy is the stan­dard of care for all three types.²

* References can be found in the original article via the link below.

Read Article