The Quest For CPAP Alternatives - Better Treatment For Sleep Apnea?

by Truman Varela

Said to affect some 18 million Americans, sleep apnea is a common, and sometimes dangerous sleep disorder. CPAP (constant positive airway pressure) treatment is one system that has long been used to relieve the symptoms of this condition. By administering a constant, slightly pressurised airflow to the sleep apnea sufferers airway, the symptoms of sleep apnea can be alleviated to some extend. The CPAP machine uses a small air compressor to achieve this aim.

This positive pressure airflow works quite well to keep the airway clear during sleep, and reduces the chance of obstruction if the soft tissues of the mouth and throat collapse. One of the downfalls of CPAP therapy is that it can be quite uncomfortable for the sufferer, the pressurised mask can make exhaling a little labored and the airflow can cause throat dryness. But there are a range of cpap alternative, and this article will look at some of them.

One of the most simple alternatives to cpap is the use of positional therapy as a non-invasive treatment. This is simply the act of changing the sleeping position of the sufferer to provide relief. There are a number of products that can help, from foam wedges, to special pillows and shirts that adjust the position that the sufferer can sleep in.

Positional therapy works by creating an incline that ensures that the effects of gravity on the soft throat tissues does not cause them to block the airway during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea is commonly treated with positional therapy. It is less effective for Central Sleep Apnea, where the brain itself is responsible for the unreliable breathing patterns. Positional therapy can help with central sleep apnea, but needs to be combined with additional treatments to be effective.

BiPAP is another alternative to CPAP therapy. Providing a similar treatment to CPAP, BiPAP (BiLevel Positive Airway Pressure) also ensures a positive airflow to the sufferers airway to aid them to breathe during sleep. The cool thing about BiPAP however, is that is reduces the air pressure as the patient exhales, making the breathing process much more comfortable. CPAP therapy is a good system, but BiPAP is equal in it's effectiveness, without the discomfort during exhalation, an issue for many patients. BiPAP also treats both central and obstructive sleep apnea effectively. Complex sleep apnea is another form of the condition, but is not generally treated with either cpap or bipap.

There is yet another treatment that is similar to BiPAP. This is called ASV (Adaptive Servo-Ventilation) therapy. Currently in it's experimental stages ASV (Adaptive Servo-Ventilation) sleep apnea treatment is providing good results for complex sleep apnea sufferers. There is FDA approval for this therapy, but the scientific results were not widely published which kept the treatment on an experimental footing.

These are just a few of the alternatives to CPAP. Many patients get on well with it, but it is not for everyone. Consult with you doctor to try to find the best treatment that is right for you, with effective results and reduced side effects.

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