General measures
- Sleep preferably in the lateral position!
- If necessary, also supine position prevention (RLV) against snoring (eg anti-snoring vest).
- Limited alcohol consumption (men: max. 25 g alcohol per day; women: max. 12 g alcohol per day) – refrain from evening alcohol consumption!
- Aim for normal weight! Determination of BMI (body mass index, body mass index) or body composition by means of electrical impedance analysis and, if necessary, participation in a medically supervised weight loss program.
- Verification of fitness to drive:
- For drivers of trucks, buses and vehicles for passenger transport (vehicles of group 2), daytime drowsiness must be excluded!
- For drivers of cars and two-wheelers (vehicles of group 1), the same requirements apply (private decision).
Conventional non-surgical therapy methods
- The mandibular advancement splint (UPS; synonyms: snoring therapy device; snoring splint) is prescribed for sleep apnea syndrome when the severity is low or the individual refuses CPAP positive pressure ventilation with adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV). The mandibular advancement splint is prescribed by the physician in the sleep laboratory and fitted by the dentist. After an adjustment period of four to six weeks, the splint should be reviewed and any necessary adjustment should be made. Protrusion splints consist of two splint parts, one for the upper jaw and one for the lower jaw, and a hinged connection, which is also used to adjust the degree of protrusion (advancement of the lower jaw from the resting position). The following requirements for the use of a UPS should be met:
- Sufficient number of fixed and healthy teeth per jaw or, alternatively, a sufficient number of load-bearing implants.
- Sufficient ability to mouth opening
- Inconspicuous clinical functional analysis (clinical and instrumental diagnostic procedures that provide information about the functional state of the craniomandibular system (masticatory system)).
Tooth misalignment in healthy teeth as side effects could not be proven. However, it may come as a result of snoring to xerostomia (dry mouth) or but hypersalivation (synonyms: sialorrhea, sialorrhea or ptyalism; increased salivation).
- CPAP positive pressure ventilation with adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) is used in patients with systolic heart failure and central sleep apnea syndrome (CSA). Inhalation and exhalation pressures are determined for each breath. When breathing is stable, the device provides minimal pressure support. This produces better results than CPAP: the number of breathing episodes decreases more significantly and heart function improves more. Notice: In one study, heart failure patients with ZSA were studied with and without this ventilatory support. It was found that mortality actually increased in heart failure patients ventilated by ASV (34.8% versus 29.3%; HR 1.28; P = 0.01 and 29.9% versus 24.0%; HR 1.34; P = 0. 006).CONCLUSION: Adaptive servo ventilation is contraindicated (“not indicated” or “prohibited”) for patients with systolic heart failure in stages NYHA II-IV and predominant central sleep-disordered breathing.
Regular check-ups
- Regular medical checkups
Nutritional medicine
- Nutritional counseling based on nutritional analysis
- Nutritional recommendations according to a mixed diet taking into account the disease at hand. This means, among other things:
- A total of 5 servings of fresh vegetables and fruit daily (≥ 400 g; 3 servings of vegetables and 2 servings of fruit).
- Once or twice a week fresh sea fish, i.e. fatty marine fish (omega-3 fatty acids) such as salmon, herring, mackerel.
- High-fiber diet (whole grains, vegetables).
- Observance of the following special dietary recommendations:
- Diet rich in:
- Minerals (magnesium)
- Diet rich in:
- Selection of appropriate food based on the nutritional analysis
- See also under “Therapy with micronutrients (vital substances)” – if necessary, taking a suitable dietary supplement.
- Detailed information on nutritional medicine you will receive from us.
