[3][4] Physicians may also use CPAP to treat hypoxia and decrease the work of breathing in infants with acute infectious processes such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia or for those with collapsible airways such as in tracheomalacia.
People with OSA often wake up many times at night, feel tired during the day, and have an increased risk of health complications.
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that leads to frequent pauses in breathing during sleep, potentially resulting in low oxygen levels, daytime tiredness and other health concerns, such as type 2 diabetes, heart attacks and strokes.
Each of these items are designed to help you fall asleep and stay asleep, giving your body the rest it needs so you can wake up feeling refreshed. Be aware that you may experience some minor CPAP side effects when starting therapy, which is normal and may require adjustments to your mask size or pressure settings, the use of nasal congestion products, or the addition of comfort items like a heated humidifier.
Your daily habits and environment can significantly impact the quality of your sleep. Take the Sleep Quiz to help inform your sleep improvement journey.
Automatic positive airway pressure (APAP): APAP machines offer greater flexibility than other devices by automatically adjusting as you breathe and responding to your specific needs and breathing patterns. APAP can detect snoring or airway obstruction and automatically increase or decrease the pressure.
Full face masks – these are useful for people who only breathe through their mouth or whose breathing regularly alternates between website their nose and their mouth.
What device can I use instead of CPAP? You can try oral appliances worn while sleeping to help you breathe better. Some resemble a mouth guard worn during sports or are similar to an orthodontic retainer. Devices can be sold at pharmacies and on-line, while others may be custom-made by a dentist.
The University of Kansas Health System continues to be one of the top 5 hospitals in the nation that offers Inspire sleep apnea treatment. Our team collaborates with registered polysomnographic technologists who perform sophisticated sleep studies to help doctors provide the best care.
Changing sleep positions can also help reduce OSA symptoms in some people. Alternative sleeping positions may include sleeping on one’s side instead of on their back or sleeping with one’s head slightly elevated, says Dr.
Alternative treatments may be recommended only after trying CPAP and finding it is not suitable for your situation. If you breathe irregularly as you sleep, wake up gasping for breath, or feel excessively sleepy during the day, you may be experiencing symptoms of sleep apnea.
if it’s prescribed by your doctor. To learn more, read our guide to Medicare coverage for CPAP machines and supplies.
Though it may help to slowly acclimate to wearing your CPAP mask, it’s critical to work your way up to wearing it all night long, since you won’t reap the benefits of the last stage of sleep, rapid eye movement (or REM), if you’ve prematurely removed your mask.
Customers in the contiguous U.S. who purchase their machine from The Sleep Doctor receive free ground shipping with their order.