Sleep Apnea: 5 Alternatives To CPAP

Sleeping can be a challenging routine to learn for something people do every night. Nevertheless, getting a good night's sleep can be difficult for many people, especially those who snore loudly or have sleep apnea. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) equipment is the most typical solution.

But not everyone benefits from using a CPAP machine. It might be bothersome and awkward to cover your lips and nose with a mask. Thankfully, there are alternative possibilities to explore

Those who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, have a few viable treatment choices. Sleep apnea is rarely "curable," which is unfortunate. It need treatment as a result, which is often lifelong.

CPAP, or Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, dental appliances, surgery, and, in rare circumstances, positional therapy are further treatment possibilities. In Grand Rapids, are you looking for a physician to treat TMJ dysfunction? Please schedule an appointment right away if you require an oral surgeon for TMJ & Jaw Pain therapy in MI.

Although CPAP is the most effective treatment for sleep apnea, many people find it uncomfortable.

Regular CPAP users have a better chance of getting the right treatment and relief from their sleep apnea symptoms.

Sadly, less than half of people who acquire a prescription for CPAP therapy still utilize it a year later. Oral appliance therapy may be beneficial for patients with mild to severe sleep apnea who cannot tolerate CPAP therapy. Book an appointment with our sleep apnea specialist at our Sleep Apnea Treatment Clinic in Grand Rapids to learn about cpap solutions for sleep apnea.

an oral device An oral appliance is worn on the upper and lower teeth, much like a night guard.

The lower jaw is held open and slightly forward when both pieces are worn together.

In this position, the airway is sufficiently expanded, which greatly lowers or entirely eliminates snoring and sleep apnea.

CPAP Problems

It is typical to experience CPAP-related problems. A staggering 83 percent of CPAP users stop using it or only use it occasionally. CPAP is not used by patients who find it unbearable. CPAP failure or CPAP intolerance is what is meant by this.

Alternatives to CPAP for sleep apnea include:

• Positive airway pressure at two levels
• Another option is bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) therapy.

When using this oral appliance for sleep apnea, which works similarly to CPAP, you wear a mask that pumps pressurized air into your airways to keep them open.

However, with CPAP, the pressure is maintained during the entire breath. Users of CPAP may find it challenging to exhale against the pressure.

What is BiPAP

A BiPAP system has two pressure settings. It is lower during exhalation than during inhalation. The decreased pressure may make it easier for you to exhale, especially if you have breathing issues brought on by heart or lung issues.

If utilizing gadgets hasn't helped you breathe better at night, surgery might be necessary. One of the following operations may be suggested by your doctor, depending on the underlying issue that is causing your OSA

Genioglossus moving forward.

The surgeon must cut your lower jaw bone in order to advance your tongue; as a result, your tongue is held in position and out of the way of your airway.

A device is inserted into your chest and connected to the hypoglossal nerve to control tongue movement. Hypoglossal nerve stimulation An attached sensor keeps track of your breathing while you sleep. If you cease breathing, the sensor will induce your tongue to move out of your airway by activating the hypoglossal nerve.

Mouth surgery 

To provide you more breathing room, your lower jaw (mandible) and upper jaw (maxilla) may be advanced by a treatment called maxillomandibular advancement.

Nasal surgery 

If a polyp is obstructing your ability to breathe, surgery can remove it or realign a misaligned septum.

Soft palate implants - During this minimally invasive procedure, also known as the pillar operation, three tiny rods are implanted through the roof of your mouth. The implants support your soft palate, preventing it from impeding your upper airway.

Soft palate implants 

During this minimally invasive procedure, also known as the pillar operation, three tiny rods are implanted through the roof of your mouth. The implants support your soft palate, preventing it from impeding your upper airway.

Surgical Options

Surgery can reduce the size of your tongue if it is overly large and restricting your airway.

In order to enlarge your airway, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP or UP3), a common surgical treatment for OSA, includes the removal of extra tissue from the top of your throat and the back of your mouth. A different option is a uvulectomy, which involves removing all or part of the uvula, the tissue that resembles a teardrop and hangs down at the back of the throat.

Removal of the tonsils and adenoids: Your tonsils and adenoids are situated at the back of your throat. If they're so large that they're impeding your airway, you might need to have them removed.

Alternative Options

Positional Therapy -You are less likely to develop sleep apnea if you sleep on your side or stomach. However, you're more likely to have issues if you sleep on your back. You can avoid resting on your back and lessen the need for a CPAP machine by using accessories that attach to your waist or back.

Exercise and Weight Loss - An OSA risk factor is obesity. According to research, OSA7 can be treated with significant weight loss. A diet adjustment combined with a minimum of three hours of moderate activity per week proved to be a successful weight loss intervention for OSA, according to one study. According to a different study, bariatric surgery can lessen OSA severity

as well. To assist with the medical management of obesity, patients should seek assistance from an endocrinologist or specialist in obesity medicine.

Patients who change their sleeping postures in addition to losing weight get better outcomes than those who do neither. OSA cannot be entirely cured by weight loss, though.

Find out from your healthcare practitioner which CPAP alternatives are suitable for your OSA. To give your doctor a detailed picture of how OSA affects your life, make note of your symptoms and sleeping patterns. You can create a treatment strategy to lessen your apnea episodes together.