Open communication with your doctor about your CPAP therapy experience is so important, especially when you first start out. Each individual is different, so be sure to let your doctor know how your experience is going and don’t hesitate to communicate any issues or concerns you have. 

Tongue retaining devices keep the tongue forward so that it does not block the airway. These devices also help reduce the number of apnea events experienced, although studies have shown issues with compliance. People tend to prefer mandibular advancement devices over tongue retaining devices.

Below is a summary of these problems and advice on how they can be controlled. Any major problems should be immediately reported to your doctor or nurse who will be able to deal with them in conjunction with a specialist at a Sleep Department.

Luckily, there are alternative options to CPAP therapy for people experiencing difficulty using a CPAP device. Read on to learn more, including expert insight into what these alternatives are and whether they’re effective.

If disrupted sleep regularly interferes with your daily activities, you should seek professional help to get a diagnosis. Your primary care provider may refer you to a sleep specialist. Sleep specialists can have different backgrounds: They are neurologists, pulmonologists, or psychiatrists specifically trained in sleep medicine.

As time goes on, you will discover which sleeping positions feel most comfortable, and though getting used to your CPAP therapy may seem like a challenge at first, don’t give up: CPAP is proven to work.

The device powers on as soon as breathing is detected and turns off when you remove your face mask. Ramp mode allows you to ease into your therapy with a lower pressure level that increases only after you’ve fallen asleep.

One way to check here get the most out of your therapy is to set goals for yourself. To start, aim to wear your mask for a certain amount of hours, incrementally increasing the length of time it’s worn each night.

A number of surgeries can reduce apnea events, though the evidence for their efficacy is limited to small studies. 

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CSA occurs when the brain doesn’t send signals to the body to breathe during sleep. CSA can be caused by other health conditions, such as heart failure, stroke and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and is typically treated by addressing any underlying factors.

Hypoglossal nerve stimulation: For this treatment, a surgeon inserts a stimulator into the nerve that controls tongue movement. When this nerve is stimulated, the tongue is positioned to keep the airway open.

Some people see a significant improvement in their OSA symptoms when they stop sleeping on their backs. Though getting used to a new sleep position can be a challenge, several wearable devices are available that alert the user when they move onto their back. 

Oral appliances may prove to be a preferred alternative to CPAP for some users thanks to their small, convenient size, lack of noise and little need for maintenance, says Kevin Postol, D.