Patients also need long-term follow up with an annual office visit to check equipment, titrate settings as needed, and to ensure ongoing mask and interface fit. Continuing patient education on the importance of regular use and support groups help patients obtain the maximum benefit of this therapy.
Continuous negative external pressure (cNEP) is an investigational treatment for OSA. Unlike many PAP devices though, cNEP machines do not use a mask and do not cover the nose or mouth.
Before considering an alternative to CPAP therapy, it’s important to discuss any concerns or challenges about this treatment with your doctor.
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While asleep, the Inspire implant opens the patient’s airway, allowing them to breathe regularly and sleep soundly.
Sleep apnea surgery can be used in several different circumstances. As a first-line treatment, surgery may be recommended prior to CPAP therapy in people who have a blockage in their airway that can be fixed with a surgical procedure.
Treatment should be based on individual circumstance and should be discussed with a healthcare professional.
You may need time to adjust to using your mask. There is a range of different styles and designs available and most people are able to find a mask that fits well and is comfortable. The different styles of mask are:
Myofunctional therapy, or therapy for facial and mouth muscles, may help reduce apnea events. This therapy includes exercises to strengthen the muscles in the tongue, soft palate, lips, and face. Correcting the position of the tongue can help prevent it from blocking the airway.
Nasal EPAP is an emerging treatment for OSA that uses the individual’s own breath to keep their airway open. This therapy utilizes disposable valves that are secured into or over the nostrils. When the sleeper exhales, the valves block airflow and create enough pressure to keep the airway open.
We do not personally test CPAP equipment, anti-snoring mouthguards, supplements, and other medical devices that require a doctor's prescription. Rather than using specific rating criteria, we rely on our team's extensive knowledge of sleep products and medical industry standards to get more info pair each reader with the right devices.
How can I reduce severe sleep apnea symptoms naturally without CPAP? Exercising, losing weight, not smoking, and avoiding or drinking less alcohol can all greatly reduce sleep apnea events.
In the long term, a CPAP machine can help prevent high blood pressure, risk of stroke, risk of heart attacks and reduce memory decline, all of which can be side effects of untreated sleep apnea.
Experts estimate that obesity contributes to as many as 60% of cases of moderate to severe OSA. As a result, doctors recommend weight loss for people with OSA who have obesity or are overweight.