But roughly one-third of CPAP users don’t stick with treatment, according to a 2016 review of studies published in the Journal of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery. According to the review, users often cited problems with comfort, convenience, and claustrophobia as reasons for giving up on CPAP.
And while the vast majority of the long-term side effects of CPAP machines are very beneficial, a couple of rare negative effects can occur from time to time. Luckily, most of those issues can be easily addressed.
Wash Your Equipment Properly: It’s important to wash your equipment on a regular basis using warm water and mild soap. To completely stop the growth of germs, some people use a CPAP cleaner device to sanitize their equipment after cleaning.
Those who find the noise of a CPAP bothersome may also prefer the quieter design of an EPAP. Although you can buy travel CPAP machines, patients who travel frequently may still prefer the significantly lighter, more compact design of an EPAP, which also doesn’t require the lengthy, regular cleaning process that a CPAP does.
Scientists are still debating whether CPAP therapy can cause voice changes over time. That said, some studies have suggested that using a CPAP machine may cause mild hoarseness in a small number of people. This issue is thought to stem from recurring dryness in the mouth, throat, and airway.
One of more info CPAP therapy’s most common side effects is skin irritation or red marks from headgear. These spots typically appear along your cheeks or nose and may become sensitive to touch. Over time, CPAP skin irritations can become infected and require medical intervention.
Inspire has been shown to be clinically effective for treating moderate to severe sleep apnea in people who don’t respond to or tolerate CPAP therapy.
Normally when you go to sleep, your throat muscles hold your airway open. If you have sleep apnoea, your throat muscles relax too much when you are asleep.
Positional therapy: Some patients with OSA, only have significant sleep disordered breathing in the supine position. Thus, some clinicians may prescribe positional therapy to patients with less severe disease whose OSA occurs predominantly in the supine position. This treatment may be achieved though various interventions, such as tennis ball placed in the back of a nightshirt or through more formal devices that have been developed specifically for this purpose.
According to most health experts, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy is considered the most effective way to minimize the effects and reduce health risks associated with sleep apnea.
When to Ask Your Doctor About Inspire Speak to a doctor if you have obstructive sleep apnea, think you might meet the eligibility requirements for Inspire, and have not had success with CPAP therapy. A trained medical provider will be able to help you determine if Inspire is right for you.
Redefining success in airway surgery for obstructive sleep apnea: a meta analysis and synthesis of the evidence.
CPAP is typically the first PAP therapy used to treat sleep disordered breathing. It's simple approach to supporting the airway is effective for many sleep apnea patients. However, it may not successfully treat everyone.
Commercial insurance companies and Medicare typically reimburse for oral appliance therapy, though commercial reimbursement varies by region. Oral appliances should be fit and titrated by dentists that are trained in the management of OSA.