What Are Your Sleep Apnea Device Options?

Sleep Apnea Devices and CPAP Supplies

If you have sleep apnea and are considering your device options, you should know that while sometimes, treatment of this kind isn’t necessary, in other cases, you need to make sure to treat your condition so that you can begin sleeping well again. You may suffer from excessive sleepiness during the day time, hypertension, and heart failure. All of these conditions can be solved by a sleep apnea device that allows the flow of air into the lungs during sleep.

You might be thinking that getting a sleep apnea device can be bulky and uncomfortable, but many people who use these machines and devices find that they are able to get a good night of sleep and don’t have to suffer with the common symptoms, such as snoring and waking in the night. Plus, people who use these devices also report much less daytime sleepiness and morning headaches, so if you have been advised to treat your sleep apnea and other forms of treatment don’t seem to be working, you should consider using one of the many models of devices to help treat your condition.

Sleep Apnea Supplies

One of the many common devices for sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure, also known as CPAP machine. This is the most common device for sleep apnea and it comes with a machine, tubs and a mask worn over the nose. However if the person breaths with their mouth open while they are sleeping, a full mask will be provided. This device works by sending pressurized air into the lungs, which pushes the tongue forward and opens the airways.

CPAP is only available through a doctor’s prescription and is usually only prescribed to people with moderate to sever sleep apnea. Although it is shown to help people with central sleep apnea. CPAP may be a bit uncomfortable to use, and most who are prescribed CPAP only use it for a few hours a night or for a few days. CPAP manufacturers have made improvements to this device. For example they have created a heated humidifier to provide warm and moist air, which may prevent dry mouth and sore throat, the most common side affects of CPAP. Another new improvement is a ramp, which is set to provide low pressure while falling asleep and generally increase during the night.

BiPAP Machines

Another device to help with sleep apnea is bi-level positive airway pressure, otherwise known as a BiPAP machine. BiPAP is very different from CPAP, unlike CPAP, BiPAP, provides varied levels of air through out the night. When you breathe out, BiPAP decreases the pressure and increases it when you breathe in. This device may be more expensive, but it is more comfortable then a constant level of air pressure.

Adaptive Servo-Ventilation

Adaptive servo-ventilation, ASV, is also another device to help with sleep apnea. This device stores certain breathing patterns and information in a computer built into the machine; it then uses that information to prevent airflow disruptions during the night. ASV releases pressure that regulates the breathing process. ASV is newly improved and has been seen to have a higher success rate in helping central sleep apnea.

A mouthpiece or an oral appliance is also now commonly used to prevent breath pauses in sleep. Mouthpieces are cheaper, smaller and easier to use and because of that they have become the number one alternative to CPAP. Just like CPAP and BiPAP, mouthpieces have also become more advanced, before they could only help mild to moderate sleep apnea, but they are now shown to be effective on severe cases of sleep apnea.

Mandibular Advancement Device

The most common mouthpiece is a mandibular advancement device (MAD). You can go to a dentist or and orthodontist to get this device. The mandibular advancement device stops breath pauses due to sleep apnea by pushing the lower jaw forward and adjusting the tongue to keep it from blocking the airway. There is also a tongue retaining device (TRD) that keeps the tongue in place to keep the airways open.

All of these common sleep apnea devices are prescribed by a doctor and are FDA approved. Regular appointments to the dentist should be made for regular fittings, check-ups, and for any concerns that you may have from using these sleep apnea devices.