Still Snoring Without Your CPAP? Here is Why
You were suffering from the symptoms of sleep apnea and finally decided to do something about it. Whether you were sick of being tired all the time, had headaches every day, or at the behest of your bedsharing partner, deciding to get treatment for sleep apnea is a big step that millions of sufferers never take. However, on the odd night that you do not use your CPAP machine, your snoring comes right back. It may leave you wondering why, and if you will ever have a night’s sleep without your machine again. Want to know whether you will ever be able to stop snoring without a CPAP machine? Keep reading to learn more about why your CPAP isn’t working and how you can find real snoring relief.
Understanding How a CPAP Works
CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) is a machine that uses mild air pressure to keep breathing airways open while you sleep.
You should use your CPAP machine every time you sleep at home, while traveling, and during naps. Getting used to using your CPAP machine can take time and requires patience.
You may also need help from your healthcare provider to use the humidifier chamber in your machine or to adjust your pressure settings. You may also need to try a different machine that has multiple or auto-adjusting pressure settings.
For the treatment to continue to work, it is important that you clean your mask and tube every day and refill your medical device prescription at the right time to replace the mask and tube.
Understanding Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a difficult condition that not only causes snoring, but can also affect so many other areas of your life, as well. Some of the symptoms of sleep apnea include:
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Headaches
- Dry mouth
- Memory issues
- High blood pressure
- Impotence
- Loud snoring
- Gasping during sleep
- Difficulty focusing
- Difficulty losing weight
Sleep apnea has many root causes. Whether it is just the anatomy you were born with, you are overweight, or you have chronic congestion, there are so many reasons that someone could have sleep apnea. It is not a condition that goes away on its own. It will actually worsen over time and cause many dangerous health issues such as heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular issues.
Dangers of CPAP Machines
Perhaps the most common treatment method for sleep apnea is prescribing a CPAP machine. CPAP machines work for nearly everybody who suffers from sleep apnea because it doesn’t matter what the root cause of your airway obstruction is; air is being forced through, and you are able to sleep more comfortably.
There are many drawbacks to using a CPAP machine. This includes the fact that they are bulky and uncomfortable, they are difficult to maintain, and they have had dangerous recalls involving choking.
Uncomfortable and Inconvenient
It’s no secret that CPAP machines are bulky, uncomfortable, and very inconvenient. Sleeping with a heavy and bulky mask strapped to your face every night can be very difficult for most people to get used to. In addition, the loud noise that CPAP machines produce provides no relief for bedsharers; it can be equally as annoying.
CPAP machines are nearly impossible to travel with. If you travel frequently, like to go camping, or spend nights away from home regularly, you won’t have a good night’s sleep without your CPAP machine.
Difficult to Maintain
CPAP machines are just that—a machine that can often require maintenance. Mold and mildew can build up in these machines, making cleanliness very important. Parts may need to be changed and swapped out from time to time, and if it breaks down or your power goes out, there isn’t much you can do.
Busy adults often do not have time to devote to cleaning and maintaining their CPAP machine, leading to unhealthy air being forced into the lungs.
Recalls
CPAP machines have had some dangerous recalls.
According to the FDA, the potential health risks involved with the CPAP recall include the polyester-based polyurethane (PE-PUR) sound abatement foam, which is used to reduce sound and vibration in these affected devices, may break down and potentially enter the device’s air pathway, according to the FDA. If this occurs, black debris from the foam or certain chemicals released into the device’s air pathway may be inhaled or swallowed by the person using the device. These issues can result in serious injury, which can be life-threatening, cause permanent impairment, and require medical intervention to prevent permanent damage.
Also according to the FDA, to date, Philips Respironics has received several complaints about the presence of black debris/particles within the device’s air pathway. Philips Respironics has also received reports of headache, upper airway irritation, cough, chest pressure, and sinus infection, which may be related to this issue, though the cause of the symptoms cannot be definitively linked.
Will I Have to Use My CPAP Forever?
You can think of your CPAP machine as a Band-Aid for your snoring. It is helping, but not curing the actual issue. The moment you stop using your CPAP machine for a night, you will notice that your snoring returns. It does nothing to help your sleep apnea issue; it only helps to get the oxygen your body needs in order to have a restful night’s sleep. This means that deciding to go with a CPAP machine to manage your sleep apnea symptoms includes signing up for a lifetime sentence with it.
Is There a Cure for Sleep Apnea?
Luckily, there are other ways to actually treat the sleep apnea condition you are suffering with instead of slapping a Band-Aid on it. Depending on the source of your obstruction, it is important to talk to your doctor about all of these options. Some include:
- Lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, can help reduce the weight on your neck
- Surgery to remove tonsils or other obstructions
- Taking allergy medication to manage congestion
- The Vivos Method as a noninvasive approach to sleep apnea treatment
The Vivos Method
The Vivos Method for sleep apnea treatment includes treatment regimens that employ proprietary CARE appliance therapy and other appliances that alter the size, shape, and position of the soft tissues that comprise a patient’s upper airway and/or palate.
The Vivos Method opens airway space and may significantly reduce symptoms and conditions associated with mild-to-severe OSA in adults, such as lowering Apnea-Hypopnea Index scores. Vivos also employs a marketing and distribution model that collaborates with sleep.
In addition, the Vivos Method will give you results in as little as one year, depending on your commitment to treatment. Compared to the lifetime sentence of a CPAP machine, the Vivos Method is the ideal way to treat sleep apnea.
Get Real Snoring Relief from Gorman Health and Wellness
Dr. Gorman is a part of the breathing wellness movement, which aims to increase awareness and improve treatment for sleep-related airway conditions like sleep apnea. He has partnered with organizations focused on collaborating with dentists to apply the sciences of Craniofacial Epigenetics (the study of cranial modifications caused by gene expression as opposed to genetic code alteration) and Pneumopedics® (the practical application of oral appliance therapy and non-surgical airway remodeling) in the management of sleep apnea.
Together, the application of these sciences allows for underlying causes of airway obstruction to be treated in 98% of cases, resulting in a high success rate among sleep apnea patients. For every sleep apnea case at our practice, Dr. Gorman will gather patient data and determine the patient’s specific needs based on home sleep test results, dental impressions, CT scans, and images. Our state-of-the-art technology, paired with Dr. Gorman’s experience with sleep disorders, allows him to find the most effective treatment plan for each individual’s particular case, yielding improved daytime and nighttime breathing for the patient.
“I have been helping people suffering from Sleep Apnea with a non-invasive, clinically approved treatment method. This method has allowed my patients to sleep with far fewer events per hour, allowing them to get rid of their CPAP and BiPAP machines. Imagine not having to use one of those machines, getting back a much greater quality of life along with the benefits of being able to breathe better.” – Dr. Gorman.
For more information on Dr. Gorman and improving your sleep apnea, contact us today.
