CPAP is one of the most popular therapies given to people with sleep apnea, but the discomfort can cause people to wonder how long they would have to use it.
Do I have to use CPAP forever? You don’t necessarily have to use a CPAP machine forever if you have sleep apnea. It will always depend on the circumstances surrounding your condition. Sleep apnea is, after all, influenced by a number of factors. If your CPAP therapy coincides with lifestyle changes that make you better, for example, your sleep specialist may decide to allow you to stop the CPAP therapy.
As you read further, you’ll learn more about how CPAP works and what the alternatives are.
How Does CPAP Work?
CPAP, or continuous positive airway pressure, is a form of therapy that requires you to wear a mask while sleeping. The mask is attached to a machine that continuously sends air pressure into the throat, ensuring that there are no obstructions to the flow of air.
Sleeping with a mask may seem uncomfortable, but CPAP therapy is, by far, the most effective way to treat sleep apnea. It may take a lot of getting used to, though.
The good news is, there are different types of masks available for you to use. The strap holding the mask in place is also adjustable, so you can try to find the fit that you’ll be most comfortable with.
It is also important to understand that sleep apnea is influenced by a number of factors. Issues about your weight, for example, could worsen your condition. So you may be advised to do CPAP now, but when you lose the excess fats around your neck and throat area, your condition may improve and your doctor may decide to take you off the machine.
Despite the inconvenience of using a CPAP machine, nothing beats being able to sleep without interruption throughout the night. As you know, sleep apnea can cause you to have restless nights, making you feeling even more tired when you wake up.
But once you start using CPAP, you’ll feel well-rested in the morning, making the inconvenience of sleeping with a mask more than worth it.
Are There Alternatives to CPAP?
As far as therapy is concerned, there are a number of other alternatives to CPAP. The bilevel positive airway pressure or BPAP is one of them.
Where CPAP sends a continuous amount of pressure into your airways as you sleep, BPAP sends different levels of pressure. It sends a high level of pressure when you breathe in, and a lower amount when you breathe out.
You could also opt for oral appliances, which you can also get from your dentist.
Oral appliances are not as effective as CPAP, so it is only recommended for people with mild to moderate sleep apnea or for those who can never get used to CPAP.
How do oral appliances work?
Most oral appliances are fashioned to push you jaw forward, making your airways wider and making it easier for air to come in and out. You may have to come in a few times to make sure the dentist has the perfect fit. Regular adjustments may also have to be made to make sure the tight fit stays.
Sugery is another option in treating your sleep apnea, but these are usually recommended only when the usual therapies do not work.
Tissue removal or uvulopalatopharyngoplasty is one option, although this is not really guaranteed to work in all cases. It involves removing some of the tissues around your throat area, making your airways wider. In some cases, the adenoids and tonsils may also be removed.
If you do not want the surgical risks but want the same results as a tissue removal procedure, you can also opt for tissue shrinkage. This is done by radiofrequency ablation, and only shrinks the tissues around your throat instead of removing them.
You can also get the same effect that oral appliances have, but for the long-term. Jaw repositioning or maxillomandibular advancement involves surgically moving your jaw forward, making the space around your tongue and soft palate wider.
In really serious and life-threatening cases of sleep apnea, the doctor may recommend a tracheostomy. This procedure involves creating a new passageway for air by putting a hole in your neck and inserting a plastic or metal tube into it. Once the procedure is done, you’ll be breathing through the tube at nighttime so that the air avoids passing through the usually clogged air passage on the upper throat.
There are also some experimental procedures that still require more research to check on their long-term effectivity. You can have plastic rods implanted into your soft palate, for example, to widen the airways.
What Lifestyle Changes Can Support My Sleep Apnea Treatment?
As with any other medical condition, you would have to make a few lifestyle changes when you are diagnosed with sleep apnea. Therapy and surgery alone will not get you through it, especially if you have a few habits that trigger sleep apnea even more.
Here are some lifestyle changes you can make to support your sleep apnea treatment:
- Try to lose some weight.
Yes, the amount of excess fats in your body can make your sleep apnea worse, especially if the fatty deposits are around your neck or throat area. Excess fats around your throat can make your airways narrower, making it harder to breathe especially when sleeping.
Eat healthier and exercise regularly. You’ll notice that the lighter you get, the more restful your sleep will be.
- Sleep on your side.
Your sleeping position is another critical factor in sleep apnea.
As you probably know, snoring is the biggest symptom of sleep apnea. And when you lie on your back, the tissues around your tongue and throat collapse against your airways, making it harder for you to breathe. The air forcing its way through it makes your throat and the tissues vibrate, causing the snoring sound.
Now, not all people are comfortable sleeping on their side. Some are able to do so, but only end up falling right onto their back later on.
To solve this problem, you can invest in a good body pillow that can support your body as you sleep on your side. If you feel that this will not be enough, some people actually sew tennis balls on the back of their pajamas so that sleeping on their back will not be as comfortable.
- Find potential allergens and get rid of them.
Allergies do not just cause your sinuses and nasal passages to fill up with mucus, it also causes inflammation, further blocking your airways. This is why it is important to find the source of your allergies, especially inside the bedroom.
Get rid of all the dust and dirt, and make sure you clean everything regularly. Especially if your room has carpeting, make sure this is cleaned and vacuumed regularly.
Always remember to change off your pillows every 2 to 3 years if you’re using quality memory foam or anything similar. If you’re using the cheaper ones filled with polyester, get new ones every 6 months, as it’s easy for dust, dirt, and other allergens to gather inside.
Clean out air vents regularly, and find potential sources of mold as well.
- Avoid drinking alcohol and taking sedatives.
Alcohol and any form of sedative relaxes your body. This is why a lot of people think that these help them sleep better. In reality, it’s the exact opposite.
Because alcohol and sedatives relax your tongue and throat muscles, it causes them and the surrounding tissues to collapse against your throat, once again causing obstruction to your airways. This causes you to snore and contributes greatly to sleep apnea.
- Avoid getting too tired.
The same thing happens to your body when you tire yourself out too much. It’s like taking a sedative before sleeping. The moment you fall asleep, your throat tissues just collapse, leaving a huge obstruction in your airways.
This is why it isn’t a good habit to get too tired or too stressed all the time. Quit when you know that your body is running out of energy. Get enough sleep so that you’ll have enough stamina the next day. Then, eat right throughout the day. At least, no matter how much work needs to be done, your body has enough sustenance to keep up.
Related Questions
What can happen if sleep apnea goes untreated?
If sleep apnea is left untreated, the complication could range from headaches, mood swings, memory problems and weight gain, to cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and impotence. This is why it is important to diagnose it as early as possible to get timely treatment.
Does sleep apnea shorten life span?
Studies show that people who start to have sleep apnea before they hit the age of 50 have a reduced life expectancy by around 8 to 18 years. Most of the time, it’s the complications that come with sleep apnea that contributes to this shortened life span.
