A 46-year-old member asked:
What are some alternatives to cpap for sleep apnea?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Brent Petersanswered
Pulmonary Critical Care 22 years experience
Multiple options: Treatment for sleep apnea can depend on the severity. The best long term treatment is weight loss if you carry too much weight. For mild to moderate sleep apnea a dental appliance can help with apnea and snoring. Surgical options include tissue reduction surgery (uvulopalatopharyngioplasty), jaw surgery and the newest option is a pacemaker device that opens the airway during snoring. No meds help.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Similar questions
A 49-year-old member asked:
Is cpap the only treatment for sleep apnea?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
Dr. Robert Armanswered
Pathology 51 years experience
Sleep apnea: Impossible to answer withou complete history.Your diagnosis should be based on a sleep study by your md. Cpap, bipap, etc are gold standards, but weigh loss helps, altered medication can help-check with md.If you can't use cpap, an oral appliance like the tap may help.You need to see a dentist that specializes in sleep apnea.Often oral medicine will and dentists in sleep academy.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Lebanon, Missouri
A 37-year-old female asked:
How does a cpap help central sleep apnea?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Sutira Scheefanswered
Internal Medicine 9 years experience
Multiple benefits: High quality evidence shows that positive airway pressure (i.e. CPAP) reduces the freq of respiratory events during sleep, decreases daytime sleepiness, improve systemic blood pressure and blood glucose control. Also shown to improved subjective and objective sleepiness, quality of life, cognitive function, and depression. Possibly decreases nocturnal arrhythmia however limited data.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Greece
A 38-year-old female asked about a male:
I have sleep apnea and use cpap. how can i recover completely?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
Dr. Joel Feineranswered
Psychiatry 59 years experience
Lose weight: If you are overweight, make a concerted effort to lose weight!
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Adam Lewis commented
Neurosurgery 37 years experience
See an ears nose and throat expert to ensure there is no blockage of the nasal passageways that may be contributing to the sleep apnea.
May 25, 2014
A 26-year-old member asked:
Is cpap the only treatment for obstructive sleep apnea?
7 doctor answers • 14 doctors weighed in
Dr. Craig Brownanswered
Specializes in Pulmonology
No: CPAP is the most accepted treatment for sleep apnea. Some patients benefit from mouth pieces. There is also surgery for sleep apnea but it seems to help for a limited period of time.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Patrick Melder commented
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 29 years experience
Surgery for the right patient can be very effective and can provide long term results.
Oct 1, 2011
Dr. James Donley commented
Dentistry 56 years experience
No. There are generally three options for treatment. A CPAP for many years has the gold standard of treatment. Oral appliances have been available for over 20 years. Surgery is often the treatment of last choice. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, in many cases and oral appliance by the appropriately trained dentist can be the treatment of choice.
Aug 18, 2012
A Verified Doctor commented
A US doctor answered Learn more
There are two surgical procedures for this ailment. One is to surgically reduce the pharynx the other is to advance both upper and lower jaws. the former has been shown to be of limited long term help, the latter has been shown to significantly help in the long term. When referring to surgery as not that helpful, it would be correct to differentiate between the two. Good luck!
Jan 13, 2013
NC
A 50-year-old member asked:
I need info on sleep apnea and cpap?
2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in
A Verified Doctoranswered
47 years experience
Disordered breathing: Sleep apnea is the condition of airway obstruction when sleeping, resulting in not getting enough oxygen. This leads to complications such as high blood pressure and daytime sleepiness. It is more common in obese individuals with a large neck. Wt. Loss can bring improvement. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is an effective treatment that holds the airway open while sleeping.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. James Donley commented
Dentistry 56 years experience
Many people can't or won't use a CPAP which is a breathing machine that works like a vacuum sweeper in reverse. Partly because of non-compliance with a CPAP, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine in2006 said that for mild-moderate sleep apnea or someone who can't or won't use a CPAP, an oral appliance can be the treatment of choice.
Aug 22, 2012
Last updated Feb 22, 2015
People also asked
Connect with a U.S. board-certified doctor by text or video anytime, anywhere.
$44 video appointments with $19/month membership*
*Billed $57 every 3 months. Cancel anytime.
Disclaimer:
Content on HealthTap (including answers) should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and interactions on HealthTap do not create a doctor-patient relationship. Never disregard or delay professional medical advice in person because of anything on HealthTap. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency.
