Sleep apnea is a common issue that affects many Americans. If you wake up gasping for breath, have irregular breaths when you sleep, or feel excessively sleepy during the day, there is a likelihood that you’re experiencing sleep apnea.
If you’re diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), your medical provider may recommend a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine to correct it. However, CPAP machines are not the only treatment for sleep apnea in Baxter Village near Fort Mill, SC.
Our dentist in Baxter Village, Dr. Schraw, DMD, has provided in this guide the various CPAP alternatives for sleep apnea that might work best for you. However, before we dive into details, let’s explain what sleep apnea is and the various symptoms that can help you know if you’re experiencing sleep apnea.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea or obstructive sleep apnea occurs when you have a blockage in your airway which restricts air from effectively flowing through your windpipe when sleeping. This restriction and airflow inadequacy can cause your blood oxygen level to drop, which triggers a survival reflex in your brain, causing you to wake up just enough to breathe effectively.
The waking reflex is important to keep you breathing, but it disrupts your sleep. As these disruptions continue, it reduces the amount and quality of sleep you get. This eventually results in a variety of unhealthy symptoms that affect your overall health.
Sleep Apnea Symptoms
Various symptoms signify sleep apnea. Some are noticeable when you’re asleep, and others after waking. The sleep-related symptoms of sleep apnea include:
- Snoring
- Pauses in breathing while asleep, which is noticeable by others
- Waking up in the middle of the night
- Night sweats and restlessness while sleeping
- Waking up and feeling short of breath
The awake-related symptoms of sleep apnea include:
- Feeling exhausted when you wake
- Mood swings
- Daytime sleepiness
- Headaches
- Disruptions in brain function
- Sexual dysfunction
- Insomnia
What is CPAP for Sleep Apnea?
A CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine is a medical device that uses mild air pressure to keep your airway open while you sleep, thus preventing sleep apnea. CPAP machines are used to treat both central and obstructive sleep apnea and other sleep-related breathing disorders. The machines allow for the free flow of oxygen into the body, reducing the risks of having high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
The Inspire Sleep Apnea Machine
The Inspire sleep apnea machine is a mask-free solution for individuals with OSA who have struggled with CPAP. It is a simple-to-use machine and comprises an Inspire implant, remote, and an app (to be installed on your smartphone). Popularly referred to as Inspire therapy, it enables you to control your obstructive sleep apnea treatment from the palm of your hand. With the Inspire machine, you don’t have to use a mask and hose. All you need to do is just sleep.
Sleep Apnea Treatment Without CPAP
For individuals who find it challenging to treat their sleep apnea issues with CPAP, there are other effective options. At Smiles by Design, we offer a variety of alternative treatments for sleep apnea. Some popular sleep apnea treatments without CPAP include:
- APAP: An auto-adjusting positive airway pressure (APAP) machine is used as an alternative to CPAP when responses to a patient’s breathing patterns are required. Hence, the APAP treats OSA by changing the user’s breathing patterns.
- BiPAP: The Bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) machine gives users the option to adjust their inhalation and exhalation settings. It’s recommended as a lower expiratory pressure machine for users who find it challenging to exhale when using a CPAP machine.
- EPAP: The expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) machine serves as a nasal device that uses valves to produce air pressure whenever a user exhales, thereby ensuring that the upper airway does not collapse. The EPAP is a new sleep apnea treatment alternative to CPAP that doesn’t use machines to deliver pressurized air.
Natural Remedies for Sleep Apnea
Some natural remedies can help individuals manage sleep apnea symptoms and reduce their risk of developing it. Sometimes, your doctor may recommend these remedies as a complementary approach to treating sleep apnea, but they may not be enough for severe cases.
Common natural remedies for sleep apnea include:
- Adjusting Your Sleep Position: Back sleeping can increase the number of sleep apnea episodes a person has at night. This is why experts recommend side sleeping to limit the effects of OSA.
- Avoiding Alcohol: Alcohol has a high tendency to worsen OSA symptoms in people with sleep apnea. Avoiding alcohol is one of the first steps in treating OSA, alongside sleep position and weight loss.
- Weight Loss and Exercise: People who lose weight and exercise often see better results when treating sleep apnea than people who don’t. However, weight loss alone cannot completely treat sleep apnea, so you must see your doctor for further accompanying treatments.
Common Sleep Apnea Questions
If you’re looking for answers to some of the common questions you have regarding sleep apnea in Baxter Village, we have provided you with the answers to these questions below:
What Causes Sleep Apnea?
Many factors contribute to the development of sleep apnea in adults and children. Popular among them include excess weight and obesity, and structural causes, such as underbite, large tongue, smaller jaw, or large tonsils, and genetics.
How Dangerous is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea can cause several health complications if left untreated. It could result in heart problems, high blood pressure, and other health issues, such as type 2 diabetes.
What are Self-care Strategies for Dealing with Sleep Apnea?
The self-care strategies to help manage sleep apnea involve losing weight and exercising, engaging in myofunctional therapy, avoiding alcohol, and sleeping with the right posture. The Inspire sleep apnea machine is another self-care means for treating sleep apnea. It’s a hands-on tool that can be controlled from your smartphone.
If you’re looking for alternatives to CPAP for treating sleep apnea in Baxter Village, Smiles by Design offers treatments that are tailored to directly treat your sleep conditions. We will carefully examine your conditions and discuss comfortable ways to treat it.
Visit us to see our dentist in Baxter Village near Fort Mill, SC, for a simple and effective sleep treatment. Book an appointment with us today to get started with your treatment.
