For some people with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea, less invasive alternatives to CPAP may be worth considering. (Getty Images) Toni Braxton and Cedric the Entertainer perform their "Love & Laughter" show at The Chelsea at … A change taking effect Jan. 1 will cap out-of-pocket cost for Medicare Part D prescriptions at … Dear Savvy Senior: I’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea and have been trying to use a CPAP device for the past six months but can’t tolerate it. Are there any alternative treatment options? — Sleepy Sam
Dear Sleepy Sam: I’m sorry to hear your CPAP mask is keeping you awake at night, but I’m glad that you’re addressing your obstructive sleep apnea problem. Left untreated, OSA is linked to daytime sleepiness and an increased risk of anxiety, diabetes, hypertension and stroke.
For those whose aren’t familiar, OSA causes your breathing to pause during sleep because something blocks your airway, like your tongue or relaxed throat muscles. Losing weight, quitting smoking and limiting alcohol can all help ease obstructive sleep apnea symptoms such as snoring.
The primary treatment for people with moderate or severe OSA is a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, which keeps your airway open by pumping air through a mask you wear over your mouth and nose when you sleep.
But many people have difficulty tolerating CPAP and don’t stick with it. CPAP machines have become smaller and quieter, though, with more comfortable options available. For some people with mild to moderate OSA, less invasive alternatives to CPAP may be worth considering. Here are several to ask your doctor about.
Dental device: This is designed to move the jaw so that the tongue shifts toward the front of the mouth to help keep the airway open. It’s one of the primary alternatives to CPAP.
A dentist who specializes in sleep medicine (find one at dentalsleep.org) will be able to customize its fit to help your breathing without causing harm to your teeth. These custom-made oral appliances can cost $2,000 to $4,000 but may be covered by insurance.
There are much cheaper options available online to treat […]
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