Cpap Pros And Cons

The Pros and Cons of Using CPAP: Points to Consider

Welcome to the most comprehensive web page you’ll most likely ever read about using a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine (CPAP) for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Here you’ll find an easy to understand guide about the good, the bad, and the alternative treatments to CPAP equipment.

Nearly 18 million people suffer with OSA, http://sleepdisordersguide.com/sleepapnea/sleep-apnea-statistics.html. CPAP use continues to be the most frequently prescribed therapy for people suffering with OSA. As with any form of treatment, there are CPAP pros and cons that you’ll want to know about.

There are other avenues available if using a machine every night is not for you. Several alternatives

from the list at http://www.apneatreatmentcenter.com/sleep-apnea-treatment-without-cpap will be discussed here. You’ll learn about non-CPAP devices, surgeries, and natural remedies for managing OSA.

According to the National Institutes of Health’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, CPAP therapy is the preferred treatment for OSA, http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/cpap. If using a CPAP is so beneficial, why do so many patients hate their machines and stop using them?

Why Do People Hate CPAP?
A report from the US National Library of Medicine states that only 30-60% of CPAP users follow through with nightly use of their machines, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC297205/. The rest of the CPAP patients use their machines sporadically or not at all. What causes this high rejection rate?

Dr. Ira Shapira, former assistant professor at Rush Medical School-Sleep Disorder Service, cites one main reason that patients hate using a CPAP is that the mask must be worn all night, every night, http://www.ihatecpap.com/cpap.html.

Other reasons people say they don’t like their CPAP machines are:

1. The mask and hose do not allow them to sleep on their stomachs.
2. Facial irritations and breakouts caused by the straps on the mask.
3. Difficulty in finding a comfortable sleeping position while wearing the mask.
4. Perceived embarrassment to let other people see the CPAP equipment.
5. Bed partners object to the machines and the noises they make, even if the noise is not loud.
6. Preexisting allergies are not compatible with the use of a mask.
7. The need to take the CPAP along when traveling away from home.

Some of these reasons may seem more like excuses to stop using the CPAP rather than legitimate justifications. But, these complaints are very real to CPAP users and serious obstacles that keep people from using their machines.

Most of the displeasure zoned in on the difficulty and frustration of using the mask, the main element in CPAP treatment.

The mask is fitted over your nose and mouth to deliver pre-measured CPAP pressurized air to your lungs. This is how the system keeps your lungs from collapsing while you sleep.

You’ll want to know some key points of consideration, the pros and cons, before beginning or continuing to struggle with your sleep apnea therapy. The following information may help in your decision making.

PROS: CPAP BENEFITS

The Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, at Columbia University reported that regardless of which type of sleep apnea you have, when you follow your doctor’s prescribed CPAP usage schedule, you’ll have fewer sleep apnea episodes, http://www.entcolumbia.org/cpap.html.

One big benefit you’ll enjoy when you wear your CPAP equipment as instructed by your doctor, is the ability to experience a full night of quality sleep, http://www/wisegeekhealth.com/what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-an-auto-cpap-machine.htm.

In addition to being able to sleep throughout the night without interruptions, continued CPAP usage has been credited with other benefits such as:

-- Improved cardiovascular

function
-- Decreased hypertension
-- Reduced risk of onset diabetes
-- Reduced risk of stroke
-- Elimination of daytime drowsiness
-- Better mental clarity and concentration
-- Increased life expectancy

So, if using a CPAP can have so many positive benefits, why do so many people choose not to use their machines? First, there is no one-size-fits-all treatment, even in medicine. Second, there are a number of reported problems that CPAP users complain about.

A few of the more typical issues are listed below and they are among those points of consideration that you’ll want to think about when deciding which sleep apnea treatment is best for you.

CONS: CPAP PROBLEMS
Over the past few decades, federal health organizations, medical clinics, and medical centers at prominent universities have examined and tested sleep apnea patients. These organizations agree that CPAP is a painless treatment, but they also agree that CPAP is not flawless and does have its problems.

As mentioned in a report from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, one frequently stated problem with a CPAP is a leaky mask, http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/cpap/risks. If your mask leaks, the amount of air pressure you receive may not be adequate.

One Mayo Clinic article, http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sleep-apnea/in-depth/cpap/ARTm20044164, reports that most new CPAP users have trouble getting used to wearing a mask while sleeping. It may take a few weeks for you to get adjusted to your personalized equipment.

Other common problems that you may experience are:
-- Finding a CPAP mask style that correctly fits snugly on your face, whether you use a mask for just your nose or mouth, or have a nose and mouth combination mask. A mask with adjustable straps helps you get the right facial positioning and required tension for your personal air pressure needs.

-- Having a dry or stuffy nose after wearing a mask. Some machines have heated humidifiers to prevent this problem. You can also use a nasal spray before putting the mask on.

-- Having a very dry mouth. If you sleep with your mouth open, the forced air pressure does add to a dry mouth situation. Using a chin strap to keep your mouth closed while sleeping usually helps.

-- Being annoyed by machine made noise. CPAP machines make a soft-sounding noise while turned on, it’s generally low in volume. If the noise is not caused by a machine malfunction and it prevents you from falling asleep, you can try listening to soft music to cover up the noise or you can use earplugs.

Of course, you may only experience one, two, or none of these problems, or you may experience a different problem. But, thankfully, most of these issues only occur while you’re getting used to your CPAP and they can be relatively easy to correct.

Now that you know about the pros and cons of using a CPAP, there’s another point of interest that you need to consider, and that is the risk of potential side effects. Not everyone will have a side effect, but it’s important for you to know what some other users have encountered.

CPAP SIDE EFFECTS
Side effects are possible dangers that can occur with almost any type of electronics or medications. This is also true with CPAP machines. Some people adapt to a CPAP without any problems while others may develop negative side effects from either the intake of forced air or from materials in the CPAP itself.

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/cpap/risks, side effects from CPAP usage are generally minor in nature and can be fixed or treated. In addition to experiencing a dry, stuffy nose, other side effects can include:

-- Congestion, sneezing, nosebleeds, sinusitis, and a runny nose. These effects can usually be alleviated if your CPAP has a heated humidifier.

-- Stomach discomfort and bloating can result from an incorrect air pressure setting. Your CPAP specialist can re-adjust the pressure setting to eliminate these side effects.

An article from Columbia University’s Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, http://www.entcolumbia/org/cpap.html, states that a typical side effect from CPAP use is the feeling of suffocation or claustrophobia, which can be treated with a different type of sleep apnea therapy.

Other side effects reported by Columbia University and the Sleep and Health Journal, http://www.sleepandhealth.com/node/566, include:

-- Sore chest muscles. This is a common result of having a more open lung capacity after years of decreased breathing ability. The soreness subsides as your body adapts to its new ability to handle more healthy levels of air intake.

-- Facial skin rashes, abrasions, sores, acne-ulcers, and pinkeye. These are the usual side effects resulting from air leakage. Changing to a newer, cloth mask can help you get relief from some of these issues.

-- The development of tinnitus from the noise made by the CPAP machine. If you experience this side effect, talk with your doctor about changing the style of your CPAP to a more modern system that may not require the use of a mask (see the ALTERNATIVE section that follows).

--The development of bronchitis and respiratory infections. These side effects can be due to incorrect or infrequent cleaning of your CPAP equipment. Following the manual’s maintenance guide can help to prevent these conditions.

After learning about the various pros, cons, and side effects of using a CPAP, you might want to know what other potential options exist for treating your personal sleep apnea condition.

CPAP ALTERNATIVES
By now you might be asking yourself: Is CPAP therapy the gold standard prescribed by most doctors to effectively treat OSA, or do most doctors primarily prescribe CPAP therapy because that’s the most popular treatment?
There are alternative approaches to alleviating or eliminating sleep apnea that include devices, surgical procedures, and natural home treatments. We’ll discuss several specific alternatives.

Sleep Apnea Devices:
Inspire is a revolutionary device that does require an outpatient procedure to implant a generator and a breathing sensor lead to activate the device, http://www.inspiresleep.com/inspire-therapy/how-it-works/. The tiny battery in the generator will last for several decades before needing to be replaced.

The entire device consists of a remote panel, the generator and the sensor lead. You turn it on when you go to sleep and turn it off when you wake up. The device monitors your sleep breathing patterns and, when needed, sends a mild stimulation signal to key airway muscles to keep your airway paths open.

A Chin Strap is used to allow you to breathe through your nose, rather than through your mouth, during sleep. A chin strap helps you to reduce snoring and it also helps to combat your dry mouth problem.

Sleep Apnea Pillows can be purchased over-the-counter and are specifically designed to keep you from sleeping on your back because that position increases pressure on your airway. Sleeping on your back also encourages your tongue and uvula, that tiny bell shaped piece of tissue at the back of your soft palate, to slide backwards to block your breathing as they also relax while you sleep.

Prescription dental devices, as noted in a University of Maryland Medical Center report, http://umm.edu/health/medical/reports/articles/obstructive-sleep-apnea, are designed by a dentist or orthodontist to prevent your tongue from shifting backwards to block your throat during sleep.

Provent is an innovative treatment device for all types of OSA, http://sleepapnealife.com/provent-therapy-review-387.html. There are no machines, masks, or wires. Two small disposable nasal patches are used, attaching one into each nostril using hypoallergenic adhesive. With your body’s own power, the device enables your airway to remain open during sleep and you benefit by receiving quality airflow.

Sleep Apnea Surgeries:
Nasal surgeries correct obstructions within your nose that target three main areas: the septum, the nasal valve, and the turbinates, http://www.sleepapnea.org/treat/treatment-options/surgery.html.

Turbinates are a network of vessels, bones, and tissue that work to filter, warm, and hydrate the air that comes in through your nasal pathways. If they become swollen, you’ll be congested all of the time and you’ll have difficulty in getting sufficient levels of air.

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) removes any excess tissue you might have within your pharynx and soft palate, http://www.sleepapnea.org/treat/treatment-options/surgery.html. The pharynx is located at the rear of your mouth where it intersects with the top of your throat. The soft palate is located in the back portion of your mouth’s roof area.

This section of your upper airway is a site where obstructions commonly occur. UPPP surgery will keep this area open and prevent any further collapsing in the back of your mouth.

Natural Home Remedies:
Nasal Strips are, and have been, a natural, over-the-counter remedy to help stop snoring problems and to help reduce sleep apnea episodes, http://sleepapnealife.com/sleep-apnea-nasal-strips-242.html. They work by opening up the pathway that brings air in through your nose and allows the air to travel from your throat directly to your lungs.

Mouth and Throat Exercises are intended to help you: (1) strengthen your tongue to prevent a backward movement into your throat during sleep, and (2) to strengthen and expand your airway muscles so they remain open when you are sleeping, http://www.sleepapneaexercise.com/.

Lifestyle Changes recommended by the University of Maryland Medical Center, http://umm.edu/health/medical/reports/articles/obstructive-sleep-apnea, that can help to reduce or eliminate someone’s sleep apnea episodes are:
-- Do not use any tobacco product
-- If obese, lose weight
-- No alcohol consumption within four hours of going to sleep
-- Do not sleep on your back
-- Use pillows to elevate your head and chest area when laying down

CONCLUSION:
You now have a treasure trove of information that will help you decide on whether to use a CPAP or to try another avenue to manage your OSA. If you’re currently on a CPAP treatment regimen, don’t stop or reduce your routine until you have discussed other options with your personal sleep apnea doctor.