With the approval, the appliances represent an alternative treatment to CPAP or surgical neurostimulation implants for patients with severe OSA.
And while the vast majority of the long-term side effects of CPAP machines are very beneficial, a couple of rare negative effects can occur from time to time. Luckily, most of those issues can be easily addressed.
Exposure to Moisture: Between the humidified air and the droplets released each time you exhale, CPAP involves a lot of moisture. Over time exposure to this kind of environment can weaken the skin barrier and cause skin irritation.
Talk to Your Doctor About an APAP Machine: If your CPAP aerophagia is bad enough to make you consider quitting CPAP therapy, it may be time to talk to your healthcare provider about switching to an APAP machine, which delivers the lowest air pressure possible to still keep your airway open.
As you adjust to breathing with a CPAP machine, this will most likely get better over time, but there are other things you can do to help yourself breathe a little easier.
In the sleep diagnostic center, a sleep technologist will need to be trained in titration during a PSG. Hospital administrators and practice managers will need instruction on billing, reimbursement, and the ancillary care needs across patients, like a programming tablet for follow-up and polysomnography titrations. A large time gap between implants may result in require re-training and re-adjustments in the program if these key personnel are not engaged. Finally, financial considerations for the patient include the costs of assessment and DISE, and if a PSG has not been done in several years, a repeat all night sleep study to determine AHI in regard to NREM and REM sleep, proportion of central or mixed events (ideally
You Are Mouth Breathing: If you wear a nasal or nasal pillow mask, your mouth may fall open while you sleep. This lets air pressure escape through your mouth, which can cause you to begin unconsciously gasping for air while swallowing some in the process.
In some conditions, the CPAP mask itself can interfere with sleep. In such cases, patients can turn to oral appliance therapy for an option that’s more user friendly.
What to do: "Wash the entire mask and humidifier chamber with soap and water at least once a week," Rowley says.
The device comes with two remotes. After the Inspire sleep apnea device is implanted, a doctor uses the physician remote control to program the setting for the nerve stimulation. Those using Inspire also have a remote control to turn the treatment on before going to sleep and off after waking.
Drink Water: The added hydration will allow your eyes to begin producing tears, which should help improve any eye irritation or dryness.
Nasal congestion. This can be the result of air being directed into your nose. What to do: Most newer CPAP machines come with a built-in humidifier—you can adjust the level of humidification so that it might ease nasal congestion.
Despite the less than optimal adherence to CPAP therapy, most studies evaluating methods to improve CPAP adherence have been focused on patients that are newly initiated to CPAP therapy. There have more info been relatively few studies evaluating interventions to improve CPAP compliance in patients who are having difficulty with, or are intolerant to, CPAP therapy. Clinical experience and data from clinical trials demonstrate that clinicians should address common problems such as poor mask fit, excessive leak, adjustments in humidification, and assuring proper treatment settings prior to discontinuing CPAP therapy.
It may also work for those who need a higher-pressure setting but find this more comfortable than a nasal mask, the AAST says. But the bulkiness may be a drawback for some folks.