If someone has sleep apnea are there any natural remedies besides a CPAP machine?
Sunday, November 30th, 2008 at
7:00 am
dave5008 asked:
I have been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea. I have tried using a CPAP machine and I found out I was allergic to the material in the mask and also the nose tubes. So I had to give up using the machine. Are there any other remedies such as like using a cool mist humidifier to help resolve the blockage in the air way.
I have been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea. I have tried using a CPAP machine and I found out I was allergic to the material in the mask and also the nose tubes. So I had to give up using the machine. Are there any other remedies such as like using a cool mist humidifier to help resolve the blockage in the air way.
Tagged with: Mask • Sleep • Sleep Remedies
Filed under: Sleep Apnea
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I don’t know, but am VERY interested in the answers— I go for my sleep study on Monday.
good luck!!
there are new nose cups that are so tiny and you won’t be allergic to them=(latexis the one causing allergies) =these don,t have that and the nose cup fits just over the nose and that’s it=you have to be fitted for one=it is worth the cost though =I sleep much better with mine using the mini nose cup=good luck=unfortunately there isnt any other remedies as you have sleep apnea because you stop breathing when you are sleeping
No there is no other way. Go back to the place that provides your CPAP machine and tell them about your allergy and they should be able to come up with something you are not allergic to or be able to modify something for you.
One home remedy is sewing a tennis ball into the back of your pajama top, which is supposed to prevent you from lying flat on your back. Losing weight can sometimes help, but that is more of a long-term solution. There are also some medical treatments, like special bite blocks that keep your jaw aligned in a better position, plain oxygen (maybe there are nasal cannulas that you are not allergic to), or even surgery. You might also find out about alternative CPAP masks — maybe they make some that you are not allergic to. Good luck in finding something that works for you.
It really depends on what’s causing the sleep disturbances. The formation of a person’s teeth can cause them to have restricted air flow while sleeping because when fully relaxed, the tongue, if not in a normal position, can relax too much, partially blocking your airway. If this is the case, then a mouth guard that football players wear can help. This puts a small gap between your teeth, and the gaps in just the right place to allow your tongue to fall into it’s natural place. Sporting goods stores carry the mouth guards.
If it’s because your nasal passages tend to close shut while you’re sleeping, try some BreatheRight nose strips. Even with a cold, those little things do wonders holding open your sinuses.
You can also try sleeping on your side with a body pillow. Sometimes a person’s muscles, breasts, or just body fat will put pressure on the chest while sleeping on your back, causing you to breathe less efficiently. Of course, don’t sleep on your stomach as this restricts your chest from expanding fully. You can even try sleeping on your back, with something under your top mattress so the head of your bed is elevated.
You can also try taking an expectorant syrup to see if that helps. An expectorant, or even something like guifanesin (Mucinex) will help open the airways. But always take these will a full glass of water for best results.
The again, if you have a true case of sleep apnea (not related to an outside factor like those listed above), like the type an infant would have, well there’s nothing that can really be done if a CPAP machine wont work because your mind is not sending signals correctly, and you’re forgetting to breathe.
I wouldn’t advise this, but I have heard people putting a small strip of tap over part of their mouth. Seems to work for some people.
Are you positive you have an allergy or do you just not like to wear it??? For a lot of my patients, it is the latter.
Did you discuss this with your doctor? He/she would be able to come up with alternatives for you.
Unfortunately, the only reliable treatment for sleep apnea is a CPAP. There are things that you can do to lessen the severity of your case. For example, you can lose weight through diet and exercise. The vast majority of people with sleep apnea are overweight, so I am just assuming that this is the case with you.
Talk to your doctor.
You can check out this site:
Yes, there are indeed other treatments available for sleep apnea. There is surgery available which is done by laser, that cuts away the extra tissue in the airways which is causing the blockage. The surgery is available only to those individuals who are classified as having Severe sleep apnea. Then there is also an AMP dental appliance worn in the mouth like a retainer. The device essentially pulls the lower jaw forward and thus increase airway space. Talk to your doctor about these alturnatives to your treatment. I was wondering though, if it is latex that you are allergic to? Because I also have the same problem, and I was able to order a latex-free mask and tubing from my Apnea healthcare team. So that may also be a solution to your allergy. Good luck!