CPAP (constant positive airway pressure) therapy is one system that is regularly prescribed to many of the 18 million sleep apnea sufferers in the United States. The CPAP therapy machine incorporates a small air compressor which provides a positive air pressure to the sufferers airway, thus keeping the airway clear, and reducing the apnea episodes.
This positive airflow prevents the airway becoming blocked by over relaxed soft tissues, and ensures that air is available to the patient at all times. Many people do, however, find cpap a little uncomfortable. Symptoms such as dry throats and headaches can occur, and exhalation through the mask can be uncomfortable due to the positive air pressure. Luckily, cpap alternatives do exist, and this report will consider some of the other options.
Positional therapy is one of the most simple and non-invasive alternatives to cpap therapy. Positional therapy is simple, it merely involves the adjustment of the sleep position of the sleep apnea sufferer. The use of special foam wedges and pillows can aid in repositioning the sufferer to ensure that they sleep in a position that minimises sleep apnea episodes. Special shirts are also available.
Positional therapy works by creating an incline that ensures that the effects of gravity on the soft throat tissues does not cause them to block the airway during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea is commonly treated with positional therapy. It is less effective for Central Sleep Apnea, where the brain itself is responsible for the unreliable breathing patterns. Positional therapy can help with central sleep apnea, but needs to be combined with additional treatments to be effective.
BiPAP is another alternative to CPAP therapy. Providing a similar treatment to CPAP, BiPAP (BiLevel Positive Airway Pressure) also ensures a positive airflow to the sufferers airway to aid them to breathe during sleep. The cool thing about BiPAP however, is that is reduces the air pressure as the patient exhales, making the breathing process much more comfortable. CPAP therapy is a good system, but BiPAP is equal in it's effectiveness, without the discomfort during exhalation, an issue for many patients. BiPAP also treats both central and obstructive sleep apnea effectively. Complex sleep apnea is another form of the condition, but is not generally treated with either cpap or bipap.
ASV (Adaptive Servo-Ventilation) is a treatment that is similar to BiPAP. Used mainly in the treatment of complex sleep apnea ASV (Adaptive Servo-Ventilation) is still an experimental treatment but results are excellent. Although approved by the FDA, ASV is still considered experimental as there are not that many published results, but these are increasing all the time.
There are other alternatives to CPAP, such as surgery, but the treatments listed above offer great relief to many sufferers, with reduced side effects. Speak with you physician to try to find the best solution for you.
This positive airflow prevents the airway becoming blocked by over relaxed soft tissues, and ensures that air is available to the patient at all times. Many people do, however, find cpap a little uncomfortable. Symptoms such as dry throats and headaches can occur, and exhalation through the mask can be uncomfortable due to the positive air pressure. Luckily, cpap alternatives do exist, and this report will consider some of the other options.
Positional therapy is one of the most simple and non-invasive alternatives to cpap therapy. Positional therapy is simple, it merely involves the adjustment of the sleep position of the sleep apnea sufferer. The use of special foam wedges and pillows can aid in repositioning the sufferer to ensure that they sleep in a position that minimises sleep apnea episodes. Special shirts are also available.
Positional therapy works by creating an incline that ensures that the effects of gravity on the soft throat tissues does not cause them to block the airway during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea is commonly treated with positional therapy. It is less effective for Central Sleep Apnea, where the brain itself is responsible for the unreliable breathing patterns. Positional therapy can help with central sleep apnea, but needs to be combined with additional treatments to be effective.
BiPAP is another alternative to CPAP therapy. Providing a similar treatment to CPAP, BiPAP (BiLevel Positive Airway Pressure) also ensures a positive airflow to the sufferers airway to aid them to breathe during sleep. The cool thing about BiPAP however, is that is reduces the air pressure as the patient exhales, making the breathing process much more comfortable. CPAP therapy is a good system, but BiPAP is equal in it's effectiveness, without the discomfort during exhalation, an issue for many patients. BiPAP also treats both central and obstructive sleep apnea effectively. Complex sleep apnea is another form of the condition, but is not generally treated with either cpap or bipap.
ASV (Adaptive Servo-Ventilation) is a treatment that is similar to BiPAP. Used mainly in the treatment of complex sleep apnea ASV (Adaptive Servo-Ventilation) is still an experimental treatment but results are excellent. Although approved by the FDA, ASV is still considered experimental as there are not that many published results, but these are increasing all the time.
There are other alternatives to CPAP, such as surgery, but the treatments listed above offer great relief to many sufferers, with reduced side effects. Speak with you physician to try to find the best solution for you.
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