CPAP is a standard treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. It actually works very simply, by forcing the air into a backside of the throat functioning as a splint to maintain the airway open. The CPAP machine is very safe and it commonly works from the initial night of treatment.
One of the most common issues with CPAP is difficulty or discomfort in tolerating the mask and the air pressure. The CPAP supplies are typical for many machines that include a CPAP mask, CPAP filter, and a connecting hose. You can find many CPAP alternatives and you can choose the best one based on your preference.
Best alternatives to CPAP alternatives machines
The CPAP therapy works exceedingly well in several cases, but it is not always well-tolerated for a wide range of reasons. Along with the problem of treatment adherence, there are a few other reasons; why people might require CPAP alternatives.
Weight loss
The excessive weight can cause sleep apnea by enlarging the tissues in a throat. The fat tissues may also furtive the proteins are known as adipokines that might interrelate with the muscles in an upper airway. Of course, losing weight can be quite complex, particularly for OSA sufferers. Due to this, the weight loss offers a most efficient alternative to CPAP therapy in the long run that is making use of a CPAP device in a short time, which could highly assist the OSA sufferers to lose weight.
Dental appliances
For patients with gentle to moderate sleep apnea, dental appliances can offer the most efficient alternative to CPAP therapy. Commonly, these are available in dual styles such as:
- Tongue stabilizing device– These are splints that stay the tongue move onward in the mouth and also avoid it from falling back in opposition to an airway.
- Mandibular advancer– This seems like a mouthguard and also a shatter onto upper as well as lower teeth with a pivot between letting a lower jaw to be brought move onward. This opens up an airway by permitting for many rooms behind a jaw.
Positional therapy
- Approximately 60% of OSA patients are supine predominant, which means that their sleep apnea partially depends on their sleep position. For supine predominant patients, especially those who are not obese, the positional therapy might offer an efficient alternative to CPAP. However, this therapy involves wearing a device and these could be ranged from a strap with the tennis ball at a back to a lot of sophisticated alarms, which aware of the user whenever they roll onto their back during sleep.
Surgery
Surgery is one of the standard treatments for childhood sleep apnea and can be efficient in adults too. There are 2 basic areas that the surgeons aim for OSA treatment such as:
- Upper airway- The surgery of an oropharynx is normally intended to rebuild the muscles in a soft palate or eliminate excess tissue.
- Nasal- This surgery is less alternative to CPAP therapy and makes it more efficient.
Upper airway stimulation devices
One of the latest types of sleep apnea treatment is the upper airway stimulation device. This device is fixed surgically and also comprised of an impulse generator, a stimulation lead and a breathing sensor linked to a nerve that limits the tongue projection. Once you have switched on this device, it utilizes the electrical impulses to force a tongue forward in the mouth.
Nasal expiratory positive airway pressure devices
Since this EPAP device is growing in fame among the sleep apnea victims. They comprised a throwaway pair of single way valves that are held in every nostril by the temporary glue. This builds resistance as well as enhanced air pressure while exhaling via the nose and also hold the airway open until the subsequent breathing. According to several studies, the long term success rate of EPAP therapy may work very well for those with gentle to moderate sleep apnea.
BiPAP
BiPAP also is known as BiLevel PAP therapy works very well as like CPAP. Instead of single pressure, it utilizes dual pressures such as a lower exhale pressure and an inhale pressure. It is often utilized for those that have sleep apnea and lung problems such as COPD. If you must be on BiPAP or CPAP, your sleep specialist will fix on.
Sleep apnea oral appliance
It is also known as mandibular advancing devices that resemble mouth guards. They are particularly adjusted by sleep apnea dentists. It simply works by moving a lower jaw onward that opens an airway wider during sleep. This device can cause temporal mandibular joint pain and tooth shifting. They also work similarly to stop snoring mouthpiece or snoring device.
Continuous negative external pressure
CNEP is the latest technology that uses a sucking pressure exterior of a neck region in order to keep the airway open during sleep. When you select an alternative to CPAP must be done in coincidence with your doctor. Every individual has different problems, so it is better to consult with a physician before attempting any CPAP alternatives for the treatment of sleep apnea.
Inspire therapy
For patients who have attempted and failed to treat their sleep apnea in all forms of ways, the inspire implant can surely be a game-changer. During this therapy, three incisions are built to the patient’s chest to enable three parts to be implanted such as a breathing sensor lead, a tiny generator, and a stimulation lead. This battery-operated device is running for about eight hours and also approved by the FDA.
Conclusion
CPAP therapy is the most widely prescribed treatment for obstructive sleep apnea, which is a severe condition. Apart from CPAP, those who want a CPAP alternative treatment, there are some new and established treatment alternatives available. With a wide variety of treatment alternatives, it is possible for many people who cannot even tolerate CPAP and finds the one that works well for them. If you are curious about any of these treatments, you just consult with your care team to talk about your alternatives.