Sleep Apnea Devices

Benefits and Side Effects of Sleep Apnea Devices

1. Let's start with the most common apnea device used to treat obstructive sleep apnea: CPAP Machine.

   Let's see why CPAP is the "gold standard" treatment for a patient with sleep apnea:

   • treats moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea.
   • there is a large variety of cpap machines you can choose.
   • there are available different styles and designs, so you are able to find the one that fits well and is comfortable.

   Although CPAP can improve your health and eliminate sleep apnea - as long as you wear it - patients may find CPAP disadvantages and many of them will give up too soon on CPAP due to:

   • high pressures required to keep the airway open at night.
   • uncomfortable
   • experience infections in the respiratory area if your device is not clean.
   • sore nose
   • dry mouth
   • irritated eyes
   • the most comfortable are very expensive

   If you've had bad experiences with CPAP and you want to search for something else, this article about alternative cures for sleep apnea can help you.




2. Dental Devices for Sleep Apnea, which are available from dentist, are often effective when worn every nigt.

   There are two general categories of sleep apnea dental devices:

   • mandibular (lower jaw) advancing devices
   • tongue retaining devices

   The most often used are mandibular advancing devices. They attach to the upper jaw and force the lower jaw forward, pulling also the base of the tongue with it and opening up the airway.

   The tongue retaining devices are different, because they use a suction ball at the front of the mouth to hold the tongue forward and open the airway.

   In medicine world, almost every treatment has also side effects:
   
   
   • uncomfortable to wear
   • less successful with severe obstructive sleep apnea
   • initiate problems with the temporomandibular joint
   • must be custom fitted
   • excess of saliva

   If your doctor prescribed a dental device for sleep apnea, but is very uncomfortable for your mouth, then this product can improve your quality of life.




3. Sleep Apnea Pillows - these sleep apnea devices can help the airway of your throat to stay open, eliminating snoring and sleep apnea as long as you use it.

   This pillow is designed with panels of foam that are elevated, unlike a regular pillow. The elevation of your head has the purpose to increase your breathing patterns to make it regular and without apnea episodes.

   Sleep apnea pillows help only patients with mild obstructive apnea or snoring. Moderate and severe apnea are treated through other methods of treatments.

Some more interesting pages for you to check out:

• Sleep Apnea Oral Appliances

• Tongue retaining devices

• Upper airway resistance syndrome

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