Some studies suggest that CPAP treatment can be associated with weight gain during initial therapy. Weight loss is mainly recommended as an additional treatment alongside other interventions.
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Each device includes myAir, a digital assistant that provides voice-guided video instructions the first few times you use the machine. For the first month of therapy, you’ll receive check-ins and CPAP coaching based on your medical history.
Oral appliances position the jaw or tongue to keep the upper airway open. Although these devices are an alternative to CPAP therapy in people who cannot tolerate continuous airway pressure, some people benefit from using an oral appliance alongside CPAP therapy.
CPAP machines are only one way of using pressurized air to keep the windpipe open and reduce blockages. Other PAP devices may be appropriate depending on a person’s individual needs and the type of breathing disruptions they experience.
Some devices provide variable pressure and adjust automatically to the different patterns of breathing throughout the night. Very occasionally bi-level positive pressure ventilation, using a different type of machine, is used to deliver different pressures for breathing in and out.
People who have maxillomandibular advancement surgery must wear orthodontic appliances before and after the procedure.
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EPAP: Expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) therapy is a newer alternative to CPAP. Instead of using a machine that delivers pressurized air, a nasal EPAP device uses valves to create air pressure when the user exhales, keeping the upper airway from collapsing.
The CPAP device needs to be used every night. Some patients complain of mask discomfort, nasal congestion, and nose and throat dryness when using CPAP. Others find the device to be too constrictive and cumbersome, particularly when traveling.
The mask and tube must be kept clean, regularly inspected and should be replaced every 3 to 6 months. Abdominal distension or a sensation of bloating might occur which rarely can lead to nausea, vomiting and subsequently aspiration this can be minimized by more info decreasing the pressure or gastric decompression through a tube in hospitalized patients.
An estimated 18 million Americans live with sleep apnea, often using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine to get a better night's sleep.
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