Lifestyle changes
If you have mild to moderate sleep apnea, some changes in your behavior and lifestyle can help you
improve your condition. Your sleep specialist might recommend to:
- Stop smoking
- Lose weight
- Avoid alcohol and sleeping pills
- Sleep on your side
- If none of these solutions help, you will be prescribed a medical solution. Below are the most popular
- ones.
CPAP
The CPAP (Continuous Positive Air Pressure) machine is known as the “gold standard” in OSA treatment.
To use it, the patient has to wear a tight nose mask strapped to the head. The mask is connected by a
hose to an air pump. When switched on, the machine forces oxygen into the airway preventing apneic
episodes.
CPAP is extremely effective but not everyone can tolerate it and some people are not physically capable
of using it. According to Sleep and Health Journal, CPAP compliance is only 45 percent. This means that
more than half of all patients cannot (or do not) want to use this device.
The biggest complaint about CPAP is that it often causes side effects like:
- voice changes
- skin irritations
- nose and throat dryness
- headaches from the strap around the head
- tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- difficulty getting to sleep
- sinus infections
Surgery Over-the-counter Mouthguards
There are a number of mouthguards or mouthpieces sold without a prescription. These are notconsidered medical devices and they are not FDA approved for sleep apnea.
While some of these devices may help you “fix your snoring problem”, they are not considered a sleepapnea treatment option. If you are a habitual snorer and you believe you might have sleep apnea,contact a sleep specialist. Trying to solve the problem on your own may make it worse.
Oral Appliances
Oral (also dental) appliances are an effective, non-invasive alternative to CPAP. The American Academyof Sleep Medicine (AASM) has approved over 100 oral appliances as a 1st line treatment for mild tomoderate OSA. Oral appliance therapy can also be successful in 50% of all severe cases of sleep apnea. Ifyou do not respond to CPAP therapy, you can consult a Dental Sleep Specialist about oral appliance theraphy.
Oral appliances for sleep apnea are worn in the mouth. They keep your lower jaw slightly forward to ensure the airway stays open while you sleep. Unlike over-the-counter mouthguards, oral appliances arefitted to your jaw by a dentist certified in Dental Sleep Medicine. This ensures maximum comfort andbetter results.
Dental devices for sleep apnea are a very popular treatment option for a number of reasons:
Comfortable. No machine, no mask. You can eat and drink with your oral appliance.
Covered by insurance. Oral applian.ces are covered by most medical insurances.
Easy toCovered by ins get used to. It takes 2 weeks on average to grow accustomed to an oral appliance (compared to6 months for CPAP).
Plenty of options. With over 100 FDA approved dental devices, your dentist can easily help
one that works best for you.Non-invasive. Oral appliances do not require a surgical intervention.
Discreet. Many patients and their sleep partners complain about the noise produced by a CPAP machine. Oral appliances are silent and hardly noticeable.
Portable. You can travel with your oral appliance anywhere, including on a plane.
Immediate results. Most patients report improvement on the next day.
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