Recent research5 shows that long-term adherence to CPAP may be as low as 25 percent in cases of mild obstructive sleep apnea, with people discontinuing for reasons including physical discomfort and psychological distress.
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.
The mouthguard is custom-designed to fit the patient’s unique mouth structure, so it’s very comfortable.
Size of Your Mask: Studies suggest that the size of your mask influences your likelihood of developing claustrophobia. You are much more likely to feel claustrophobic wearing a full face mask versus a nasal pillow mask.
Talk to Your Doctor About an APAP Machine: If your CPAP aerophagia is bad enough to make you consider quitting CPAP therapy, it may be time to talk to your healthcare provider about switching to an APAP machine, which delivers the lowest air pressure possible to still keep your airway open.
It is also important to note that getting this device implanted makes you ineligible for certain types of MRI tests, which can interfere with future diagnostic testing.
The Inspire sleep apnea device is surgically implanted by a trained surgeon. Before the operation, you may undergo a sleep study, medical and surgical consultation, or endoscopy to screen for surgical eligibility.
In some conditions, the CPAP mask itself can interfere with sleep. In such cases, patients can turn to oral appliance website therapy for an option that’s more user friendly.
Exhaling against positive pressure, produces a back pressure that increases the air left in the lungs at the end of a breath. This can help open collapsed airways or alveoli and is often referred to as a splinting effect.
The nasal mask may not be best for people who are mouth breathers or those who have trouble breathing through their nose because of allergies, sinus blockages, or medical conditions such as deviated septum. Some people find that the mask causes irritation or discomfort on the bridge of the nose.
Not only can CPAP be effective, but the machines are now easier to tolerate—quieter and less clunky than older devices. Many newer CPAPs allow you to start the night at a lower air pressure setting—and have that pressure rise gradually after you fall asleep. This can reduce the jarring feeling of air being forced into your nose or mouth.
Nasal congestion. This can be the result of air being directed into your nose. What to do: Most newer CPAP machines come with a built-in humidifier—you can adjust the level of humidification so that it might ease nasal congestion.
Most studies evaluating the effectiveness of positional therapy are based on data from small, uncontrolled studies with relatively short-term follow up. A few observational trials with longer-term follow suggest that compliance with positional therapy over time is poor. Thus, positional therapy using various modalities should typically be recommended for patients as a secondary or supplemental therapy.
Nasal surgery alone will rarely remove the requirement for CPAP but may facilitate its use, particularly nCPAP. There is in fact limited evidence that nasal obstruction contributes to the pathogenesis of OSA.