Sleep Apnea 101

I have been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea, what should I do?

• Get The Best Equipment. For effective treatment, the CPAP equipment must be used nightly. Because of this, selecting the most comfortable equipment possible is advisable. Our company provides a low cost, hassle free alternative to the stress and risk of dealing with private insurance and traditional providers to obtain CPAP equipment and supplies.
  
  
• Get Support and Information From Other CPAP Users. The prospect of adjusting to CPAP Therapy can be daunting. You are not alone. The online CPAP Community cpaptalk.com is a free, no registration required resource where CPAP users from all over the world gather to ask questions, provide encouragement, review CPAP Equipment and stay up to date on the latest treatment techniques and options.
  
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• Replace Disposable Equipment Regularly. CPAP Filters should be replaced following manufacturer's guidelines. In general, disposable or fine filters should be replaced once a month. Washable, or foam filters, should be rinsed with clear, running water once a week and allowed to air dry and should be replaced every 6 months. Expect a CPAP Mask to remain effective for about six months. Sinus infections and nasal congestion often result from the failure to care for and replace disposable equipment regularly. Use our Replacement Part Wizard to identify your machine or mask and see all the related parts.
  
  Staying up to date on your equipment replacement is easy with our reminders. After placing orders with our company, you will be given the option to have email reminders sent to you at the period time after your order has shipped that you specify. This allows our customers to "order it and forget about it" without putting themselves at risk of using out of date equipment. You can edit your Product Reminders in Your Account.
  
  
• Stay Informed. The market for CPAP goods and services is competitive and dynamic. Manufacturers are frequently coming to market with products that make CPAP therapy more comfortable and effective. You do not want to be stuck using an inferior product or miss out on a new machine or mask that could improve your therapy and comfort! Subscribe to our CPAP newsletter and get the product and industry news that affects your therapy.
  
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I'm a new user, what do I need to buy?

You will need a CPAP machine, hose (tubing), power cord, filters, and a CPAP Mask for effective CPAP therapy. Every CPAP Machine come with a power cord, filter, and a hose (tubing). CPAP masks are sold separately.

During your CPAP therapy you may find that your needs require additional elements. More advanced and comfortable setups also include humidifiers, machine software, CPAP mask strap pads, chinstraps, insulated hose coverings, and extra filters.

What is CPAP therapy?

CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. CPAP therapy is the most recommended and the most effective treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

A CPAP machine provides air at a constant prescribed pressure through a tube and out of a CPAP mask to a person with Obstructive Sleep Apnea. CPAP therapy provides a constant airflow which holds the airway open so that uninterrupted breathing is maintained during sleep. This eliminates sleep apnea events and allows the patient to get a restful sleep.

The pressure of the air is determined during your sleep study and your doctor will prescribe you a CPAP machine at that pressure.

CPAP therapy is traditionally provided through a nasal mask that seals around the nose. However, more innovative and comfortable options are available and advances in the delivery of CPAP therapy are continually occurring.

For instance: CPAPs with that boast FLEX or EPS technology will offer you exhalation relief. APAP, BiPAP and BiLevel machines offer various levels of pressure throughout the night and exhalation relief.

What are the benefits of using CPAP?

Successful CPAP users report improvements in:

• Quality of sleep
• Quality of life
• Energy and motivation
• Mood
• Job performance
• Sexual drive and performance
• Alertness while driving

• Hypertension (OSA increases your risk of hypertension by up to five times)
• Stroke
• Congestive heart failure (CHF)

What are the health risks of untreated Sleep Apnea?

Untreated sleep apnea can lead to:

• High blood pressure
• Stroke
• Heart attack
• Congestive heart failure
• Cardiac arrhythmia
• Depression
• Glaucoma
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Chronic fatigue

Do I have to use CPAP every time I sleep?

Yes. Using CPAP therapy every night and during naps will increase the effectiveness of therapy, which will lead to an improvement in your mood and energy levels. Remember that even during a short rest your air passage is obstructed and being without oxygen is harmful to your health both short and long term. To avoid the side effects of untreated Sleep Apnea use your CPAP each time you sleep.

It will get easier, and become second nature to you if you stick with CPAP and surround yourself with support. CPAPtalk.com is a free sleep apnea patient forum we maintain. It is a great source of advice and support at any hour of the night or day.

What techniques will help me adjust to treatment?

To get used to CPAP, wear it every night without exception even if you end up taking it off after a few hours. Get into the habit of wearing it. CPAP therapy is necessary for your life. You need to make a commitment to a longer, healthier life.

Wear your Mask around the house when you are first starting out. Watch TV with it on, read while wearing your mask. Getting used to the feel of the mask when you are awake will help it to feel familiar at bedtime.

How long will I have to use CPAP?

It is very important to remember that this is therapy. Therapy is continuous. It is still today, the most recommended and the most effective treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

What Surgery or Surgical Treatments are available for Sleep Apnea?

There are several different types of surgeries available for Sleep Apnea, depending on the patient, but any surgery comes with inherent risks or possible complications, and can be painful. CPAP machines are still the most effective treatment for Sleep Apnea with very minimal risk to the end-user. Often the surgery success rate is relatively low and many people report being back on a CPAP machine, or the like, within a year, albeit often at a lower pressure.

Here are some of the more common surgeries available, although doctors are always innovating and coming up with new procedures. Not all are covered here. Talk to a sleep doctor to find out more about what the newest and best options are in your own case.

Tonsillectomy or Adenoidectomy

This is performed to increase the size or opening of the air passage in the case of Sleep Apnea treatment.

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty

UPPP is performed to reduce or remove or reshape parts of the soft palate and the uvula. It may also involve removal of part of the soft tissue from the pharyngeal areas.

Laser-assisted Uvulopalatoplasty

LAUP is similar to the above description of Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty however it uses lasers or radiofrequency waves to remove and shape the tissue.

Maxillomandibular Advancement

MMA, also known as (MMO) Maxillomandibular Osteotomy or (Bi-Max) Bimaxillary Advancement, is usually reserved for severe cases which have not responded to other surgeries or an CPAP machine well or where craniofacial syndromes or structures are suspected as the cause of the problem. It is more invasive and involves removing the top and bottom jaw and moving them forward or restructuring the chin, maxilla or mandible. Often it is performed in conjunction with Genioglossus Advancement.

Genioglossus Advancement

This procedure, commonly known as tongue advancement, is designed to move or pull the tongue forward to increase the size of the airway. It is sometimes performed along with Maxillomandibular Advancement (see description above).

Hyoid Suspension

This procedure involves pulling forward the hyoid bone in the neck to place it in front of the larynx. The hyoid bone is one of the attachment points for the tongue.

TAP Implant (Pillar Procedure)

The Pillar system is different from other treatments. It is specifically designed to produce a lasting reduction in snoring after a single office procedure. Unlike other procedures, the Pillar procedure does not require heating or removing tissue, or the use of any sclerosing agents, which means the procedure causes minimal discomfort and recovery time is short. In fact, most patients resume a normal diet and activities the same day.

During the Pillar procedure, no tissue is removed. Instead, three tiny inserts are placed in your soft palate during a brief office visit using local anesthetic. The inserts support and stiffen the palate, which has been shown to reduce snoring in individuals with very moderate sleep apnea. In addition, the inserts are made of a polyester material that causes a stiffening response in the palate tissue itself. This supporting and stiffening of the soft palate will last as long as the inserts are in place.

Unfortunately, this is not a solution for those with more than mild sleep apnea. If the obstruction occurs in a place other than the site of the implants, this procedure will be ineffective.

What Medications or Pharmaceuticals are available for Sleep Apnea?

Currently there are no drugs on the market that are effective for the treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Methylxanthine Theophylline is often used to treat those afflicted with Central Sleep Apnea and sometimes children or infants with Sleep Apnea but is not indicated for adults with OSA.

If normal treatments are not effective, sometimes a doctor may prescribe drugs that usually are reserved for narcolepsy or to help combat somnolence, such a stimulants or amphetamines. Modafinil, an anti-narcoleptic medication or wakefulness promoting drug, is sometimes used in this capacity.

Protriptiline, a tricyclic antidepressant, is helpful for a small number of Sleep Apnea patients. Sometimes acetazolamide and Medroxyprogesterone are prescribed to stimulate normal breathing. Prescription steroids or nasal decongestants can be useful in some cases to assist in widening the upper air passage.

What Orthodontic Treatment and Dental Appliances are available for Sleep Apnea?

Dental Devices or Oral Devices are sometimes used to treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea. There are several dental devices or procedures available and approved for use in treating Sleep Apnea. Usually one must go to a dentist to discuss which one would be the best choice based on the individual and to have the device custom made or fitted. They are often relatively expensive and have a moderate success rate, but could be a good option for some individuals. In general it seems the dental devices have an overall higher success rate than surgery but still lower than CPAP therapy. There are often some side effects that could be uncomfortable or cause other problems. Talk to a qualified dentist about these potential issues. Here are just a few of the dental devices available:

• The most popular treatment is MAD or the Mandibular Advancement Device. It forces the lower jaw down and forward which can help keep the air passage open and it looks like a mouth or tooth guard used commonly in sports.
• Sometimes Sleep Splints are used that hold the tongue in a certain position increasing the size of the airway.
• There is a functional magnetic system as well that places two magnets opposite of each other on the sides of the jaws to help keep the airway open.
• Rapid Maxillary Expansion is an orthodontic procedure that involves inserting a temporary screw device which is applied to the upper teeth and then turned or tightened periodically over a 3 to 4 week period. It can help reduce nasal pressure and is a non-surgical procedure that may improve breathing in people with a narrow upper jaw.

What Alternative Treatments and Lifestyle Changes can affect Sleep Apnea?

Usually these are things to be tried in conjunction with traditional treatments. Always consult with your doctor about any alternative treatment methods before trying them.

Some people have reported that playing a didgeridoo has helped strengthen the muscles in the pharynx and upper air passage and improved the number of apnea events or allowed them to lower their pressure.

In obese or overweight individuals, losing weight can have an effect on their Sleep Apnea and pressure needs for the CPAP machine. Eating a healthy diet combined with exercise, can promote loss of weight and with weight loss can lead to the need for a lower pressure on the CPAP machine.

It is recommended to avoid alcohol or other depressants or drugs that can adversely affect those with Sleep Apnea. Avoiding cigarette smoke or quitting smoking and avoiding other pollutants can help with irritation of the mucous membranes in the nose and air passage that may cause swelling.

Trying different sleeping positions can help in some cases, especially sleeping in a somewhat upright position if one is not using a CPAP machine.

Breathe Right strips might reduce snoring which is a symptom of Sleep Apnea. However, no medical research shows that these strips are affective in treating Sleep Apnea.

• Who is Affected and How?
• Sleep Apnea Treatment Options

• Sleep Apnea in children has been loosely linked to Attention Deficit / hyperactivity disorder, ADHD.
• CPAP therapy is the most common way to treat Sleep Apnea.

CPAP.com Newsletters

• Educate your Family and Friends about Sleep Apnea
• Sleep Tips: CPAP Therapy is Hard Enough Get the Basics Right
• Research Spotlight: The Positive Effects of CPAP Therapy
• Sleep Apnea and Related Health Issues