Nothing frustrates a goodnight’s sleep like a blocked airway. Whether the obstruction results from an allergic reaction or relaxed throat muscles, you will find it hard breathing. The excellent news is an expert in the field could help restore your airways and allow oxygen to reach your heart. Surprise facial plastic surgeon Dr. Smedley and his team diagnose and treat various head and neck conditions that could have adverse effects if you ignore them. The professionals address several issues like:
Sleep apnea
Have you ever felt like your breathing stops several times at night? If so, then the sleep disruptions could be resulting from sleep apnea. This is a severe sleep disorder that blocks your airways or holds up your signal making breathing impossible. You are likely to repeatedly and temporarily have your airways shut. Suppose you fail to contact a specialist for help, sleep apnea could make you feel drowsy, increasing your accident risks. Failure to contact your doctor could also lead to serious conditions like depression and heart disease.
During treatment, your doctor’s goal will be to normalize your breathing when you sleep. However, the expert’s treatment plan will depend on your condition’s severity and root cause. The treatment options your doctor will recommend include:
- Lifestyle changes
- Continuous positive airway pressure therapy. This is usually sleep apnea’s most recommended treatment, your doctor will ensure your airway remains open by providing you with constant positive pressure air via a mask.
- Surgery. Your doctor will perform a surgical procedure to widen the airway. The expert could also use the surgical procedure to minimize or stiffen the obstructing tissue, remove extensive tonsillitis and excess tissue.
- Medication. Your doctor could prescribe drugs to help with sleep apnea. However, the drugs have side effects and you should discuss with your doctor your legibility chances.
- Oral devices. Devices like a mandibular repositioning device will be an option if you suffer from moderate or mild obstructive sleep apnea. While asleep, your jaw remains in a forward position, thanks to the mouthpiece. As a result, the space behind your tongue expands, resulting in an open upper airway.
Nasal congestion
You are likely to experience nasal congestion when your nasal passageways and your sinuses’ mucous membranes and blood vessels swell. Also referred to as a stuffy nose, anyone can get nasal congestion regardless of age. However, you are at a higher risk if your immune function is lower, possibly from diabetes, HIV, or receiving chemotherapy. In other instances, the congestion could result from a reaction to allergens, irritants, or pathogens in your environment.
Nasal congestion treatment extensively depends on the cause. Your doctor could recommend options like:
- Corrective surgery
- Immunotherapy
- Corticosteroid nasal sprays
- Mucus-thinning drugs
- Antibiotics, especially if the congestion results from a bacterial infection.
Your doctor could also advise on various home remedies to help you clear nasal congestion. These remedies include:
- Inhaling steam
- Taking warm showers
- Elevate your head when sleeping
- Use of nasal rinses
- Eat probiotic-rich foods like yogurt
- Take immunity boosting supplements and over-the-counter decongestants
Having a blocked airway can be traumatic. You are constantly gasping for air amid difficulties and you could fall into depression if you do not contact a professional for help. To explore the various treatment options for your airway obstructions, contact the experts today.