Q&A With Barbara A. Phillips From University of Kentucky: Finding Best Treatments For Sleep Apnea Now And In The Future

In the treatment of sleep apnea Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines are among the most common options available to patients. While there are other forms of the machine available as well there is also work being done to find other ways to handle the condition.

Barbara A. Phillips, MD, MSPH, from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine discussed developments in treatments for the condition during the annual CHEST meeting in Montreal.

While less is known about treating patients with central sleep apnea the condition can be managed in many cases by treating the patient's heart failure. For obstructive sleep apnea there are different treatment options which have each shown various levels of efficacy.

For many patients the idea of going into a hospital or sleep center for a sleep study may not be an appealing option. As the technology for home sleep studies improve they are becoming a more viable option in the diagnosis of sleep disorders like sleep apnea.