Preferred Device of Medical Practitioners

The condition of sleep apnea is defined as a sleep disorder where the suffer experiences stoppage of breath frequently or infrequently during deep sleep; and within a timespan ranging from two seconds to sixty seconds.  It is the air stoppage that needs to be addressed once the patient is diagnosed (at the sleep lab).

The preferred choice of medical practitioners in addressing the condition is a sleep apnea machine termed CPAP.  The device is able to apply air pressure to the back of the throat during deep sleep in order that the (throat muscles) and air passageways do not collapse. 

The pressure of air generated by the sleep apnea machine keeps relaxed air passageways open  The sleep lab where it is determined you, in fact, are a sufferer of sleep apnea uses information from the sleep study in order to conclude the proper amount of air pressure needed to keep air passageways open.  

The use of the sleep apnea machine is administered by placing a mask over the area of the nose and mouth and then connecting the mask to a hose to a low volume air compressor.  Again, the sleep apnea machine is the preferred choice of most doctors. 

To be precise the sleep apnea machine termed (once again) as CPAP is comprised of the air compressor, a hose four to six feet in length; and a mask.  The person who chooses this method of ridding him or herself of the problems associated with sleep apnea will enjoy the greatest level of success as far as a treatment option.

The sleep apnea machine, however, is not without its downside as only fifty percent of sleep apnea patients who were given a CPAP or sleep apnea machine (through a sleep study) have maintained its use.  The other percentage complain the use of the machine is uncomfortable.

Many indicate the air pressure seems too high or that the CPAP mask is burdensome while some sleep apnea patients have indicated the CPAP mask made them feel a bit claustrophobic.

In order to rid themselves of the discomfort of the mask,  patients took the CPAP mask off at some point during the night or ceased wearing it.  Whatever the case, the efficacy of the CPAP mask is greatly reduced or rendered entirely useless if the sufferer does not wear it or takes it off half way through sleep. 

An alternative to the Sleep Apnea machine

In order to address the problem of patients uncomfortable wearing the mask, an oral appliance  is suggested.  The oral appliance is comfortable,  efficient and adjustable.

The oral appliance can position the patient's lower jaw forward which  allows for tightening of the tissue at the back of the sufferer's throat and this prevents the throat from collapsing during deep sleep.

The device can be bought online or through a dentist who specializes in dental sleep medicine and is proven to help some severe sleep apnea patients get a good night's sleep .  The appliance further is customized to fit the sufferer's mouth and It is the second preferred choice used in correcting sleep apnea recommended by sleep disorder practitioners.