If you or your sleeping partner suffer from sleep apnea, you already know how disruptive it can be. With obstructive sleep apnea, the most common form of sleep apnea, as the sleeper relaxes, the soft tissue in the throat and back of the mouth relaxes and causes an obstruction, or blockage, of the airway. This is usually accompanied by loud snoring, as the air tries to sneak its way past the blockage. Then, the blockage becomes complete and the sleeper stops breathing until he or she is startled awake by the body needing air!
A CPAP machine can provide relief for folks suffering from sleep apnea, but it is not the only option available.
A CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) device is designed to treat obstructive sleep apnea. While a properly adjusted, properly used CPAP will successfully treat sleep apnea, some people are unable to tolerate sleeping with a CPAP. Let’s spend a few minutes looking at the pros and cons of a CPAP device and other options that are available to improve your sleep and your life by treating your sleep apnea.
A CPAP device prevents airway blockage by providing a continuous air flow that keeps the airway “inflated” and doesn’t allow it to collapse on itself. While many people are able to acclimate themselves to sleeping with a mask over their nose, some are unable to become comfortable enough to get a good night’s sleep.
If other lifestyle-change measures, like weight loss, smoking cessation and reduction of alcohol intake, have failed, your doctor may recommend a trial with a CPAP device. Here at the RFA Sleep Apnea Center of Chevy Chase, we’ll take our time and explain the device and how to use it. If you have any questions or problems with your new device, know that we take great pride in our customer service and we will be happy to answer any of your questions.
And if CPAP is not right for you, there are other treatment options we can provide such as radio frequency ablation (RFA).
If you or someone you know is in need of a better night’s sleep, contact us for a no obligation consultation. We are the sleep specialists at Chevy Chase ENT located in the Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C. metro area dealing with sleep apnea and sleep-related problems. We can help diagnose your condition, recommend whether a sleep study would be beneficial, and offer you a variety of treatment options including CPAP, Radio Frequency Ablation (RFA) and more.
