Breathing Assistance Device for Sleep Apnea: Complete Guide

Jun 01, 2023

Suppose you often wake up feeling exhausted or too tired to be productive during the day despite having enough sleep at night. In that case, you may have a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea and need professional help.

Sleep apnea can be described as a common sleep disorder that is characterized by frequent pauses or breaks in breathing during sleep. In other cases, these pauses can take a few seconds to minutes and can occur up to 30 times every hour.

Sleep Apnea, In a Nutshell

There are predominately two types of sleep apnea: (OSA) obstructive and central (CSA). The most prevalent and common type of sleep apnea is obstructive, which occurs when the airways narrow during sleep. CSA is caused by a disruption of communication between the brain and the muscles that facilitate breathing.

This sleep disorder occurs when the soft tissues located at the back of your mouth collapse when you are sleeping, blocking your upper airway. This is what results in a loud snoring sound. Most people with sleep apnea complain about waking up snorting, choking, or gasping.

Consequently, individuals who suffer from sleep apnea often wake up very fatigued due to the poor quality of sleep they get at night and because their bodies are deprived of oxygen whenever they sleep. They are often not very productive and alert during the day and are more prone to be involved in road accidents or workplace-related injuries due to this fact.

They are also more vulnerable to a wide range of health problems, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and other health conditions.

If you suffer from sleep apnea, you should look for sleep apnea treatment near you. The good news is that you will not have to go out of your way to get solutions for this problem because they are readily available and will transform and improve the quality of your life.

How Is Sleep Apnea Treated?

There are a few sleep apnea treatment options available. The option selected will depend on how severe your sleeping disorder is and what is causing it. These treatment options are all built around the same concept: normalizing your breathing during sleep.

Some of the sleep apnea treatments in Rancho Santa Margarita that could work for you are:

Lifestyle Changes

If our dentists near Arroyo Park in RSM diagnose you with mild sleep apnea, they may recommend lifestyle changes to help remedy your obstructive sleep apnea. Some of the changes you might have to make do with may include;

Reducing your alcohol intake
Quitting smoking
Getting your weight in check
Treating any nasal allergies you might have
Sleeping on your side

Sleep Apnea Treatment Without CPAP

When most people get diagnosed with sleep apnea, their doctors recommend that they get a CPAP device. The Continuous Positive Airway Pressure device is designed to ensure that you get a continuous supply of pressurized air as you sleep to keep your airways open.

However, some people will tend to skip out on these devices for several reasons, such as:

Cost of the device
The side effects that accompany its use may include dry mouth, stuffy or runny nose
Compliance requirements

In place of these, people may use intraoral appliances. Intraoral appliances are an excellent alternative. They are designed to make your jaw thrust forward to keep your airways open and ensure your breathing is not disrupted as you sleep.

Intraoral devices work best for people diagnosed with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. These dental devices offer an effective option for people who cannot work with CPAP devices.

They are more portable and can be easily taken along for travels or vacations. Intraoral devices do not rely on electricity and function silently.

Opting for intraoral devices will greatly improve your sleep quality at night. These breathing assistance devices will improve your symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, thus ensuring that you have a good night’s rest and wake up ready to be productive.

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