Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition characterized by the frequent, momentary cessation of breathing while a person sleeps. Without treatment, sleep apnea sufferers may develop diabetes, renal disease, or stroke on top of mood changes and problems concentrating.
The life threatening implications of sleep apnea are solved by treating the disorder, most commonly with Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, or CPAP therapy. The use of this standard treatment helps millions of Americans sleep better and start preventing the cardiovascular changes such as high blood pressure which results from long term, untreated sleep apnea.
Despite the highly correctable nature of this disorder, nearly half of sleep apnea patients stop using their prescribed CPAP machines a few weeks after they begin treatment. Experienced CPAP users understand the struggle with comfortably managing sleep apnea. Finding the right CPAP mask and other appliances can be confusing and time consuming and so, many people opt to try new, alternative sleep apnea therapies before or after CPAP machine use.
Mouth Pieces to Treat Sleep Apnea
The utilization of oral appliance therapy, or the use of dental mouth pieces, is a popular choice for the treatment of sleep apnea. Some surveys show that these devices can be as effective as CPAP therapy. An impression of a person’s teeth is made at a dentist’s office and then a mouth piece is designed specially for the individual sleep apnea sufferer. When used, the new device changes the jaw alignment preventing snoring and helping to keep airways open.
Other oral devices such as Apnicure’s Winx Therapy System may also be an option. Winx promotes the movement of the soft palate forward and keeps the tongue stable so the windpipe stays open during the night. This device differs from a basic mouth piece in that it’s connected to a light, quiet vacuum which works in conjunction with the oral appliance.
New Surgical Therapies for Sleep Apnea
In some sleep apnea sufferers, neither the use of mouth pieces or continuous positive airway pressure devices are enough to treat their condition. Improvements in surgical technology has prompted the engineering of the FDA approved Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation Device. This device is a pulse generator with two leads that is surgically implanted near the lungs. The implants work by sensing when a person stops breathing and stimulates them to take a breath without rousing them from sleep. This procedure is only recommended for people who have failed treatment via CPAP therapy.
CPAP Therapy is Still Improving
Although many people are uncomfortable or nervous about the use of sleep apnea masks and CPAP machines, the technology and engineering of CPAP therapy is continuing to improve and remain the most widely recommended sleep apnea treatment. Devices made by Philips Respironics such as the Amara View face mask or the Pico nasal mask are two excellent examples of advancements in comfortable CPAP applications. At Breatheeasycpap.com, we offer superior products that provide comfort and excellent management of sleep apnea. If you’re suffering from the disorder, please visit our site to find the best CPAP mask and sleep system for you.
