ALERTS

Are there alternatives to CPAP therapy? Yes

 

 

  • Oral Appliance - Dental Device (TAP)
  • An oral appliance is an effective treatment option for people with mild to moderate OSA who either prefer it to CPAP or are unable to successfully comply with CPAP therapy. Oral appliances look much like sports mouth guards, and they help maintain an open and unobstructed airway by repositioning or stabilizing the lower jaw, tongue, soft palate or uvula. Some are designed specifically for snoring, and others are intended to treat both snoring and sleep apnea. They should always be fitted by dentists who are trained in sleep medicine.

 

             

 

 

  • Positional Therapy- Zzoma
  •  A treatment used for patients suffering from mild OSA. Patients are advised to stay off of the back while sleeping and raise the head of the bed to reduce symptoms.
                                                                                                 

        

      •  
      • Over-the-counter remedies
      Mute/Nastent – Although some external nasal dilator strips, internal nasal dilators, and lubricant sprays may reduce snoring, there is no evidence that they help treat OSA.
       

       

       

      • Behavioural changes
      Weight loss or management had proven to be benefiting for people who is diagnose from sleep apnea. Having good Sleep Hygiene will help with individual sleep:
        https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/sleep-hygiene
          • Surgery
          Surgery is a treatment option for OSA when non-invasive treatments such as CPAP or oral appliances have been unsuccessful. It is most effective when there is an obvious anatomic deformity that can be corrected to alleviate the breathing problem. Otherwise, surgical options most often address the problem by reducing or removing tissue from the soft palate, uvula, tonsils, adenoids or tongue. More complex surgery may be performed to adjust craniofacial bone structures. Surgical options may require multiple operations, and positive results may not be permanent. One of the most common surgical methods is uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), which trims the size of the soft palate and may involve the removal of the tonsils and uvula. Adenotonsillectomy, the surgical removal of the tonsils and adenoids, is the most common treatment option for children with OSA. Other children with sleep apnea may benefit from CPAP.

          .