What alternatives are effective for sleep apnea, besides CPAP?
Saturday, August 14th, 2010 at
9:14 pm
I can’t afford a CPAP machine right now. Are there any other alternatives that help with sleep apnea? I’ve tried a dental device before, but it hurts my jaw and teeth too much. Surgery is also not an option right now due to the cost. Is there anything else that can be done? I’m trying to lose weight, so no need to tell me that, either.
Tagged with: Cpap Machine • dental device • Sleep • Sleep Apnea • teeth
Filed under: Sleep Apnea
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It may be worth revisiting the sleep apnea mouthpiece option. If you can get it into hot water before putting it in for the first time it should mould to your features better and be less uncomfortable
There are NO other alternatives that will help other than weight loss and CPAP. You can get a CPAP quite inexpensively these days. Less than $500 to save your life is not too bad. Start saving if you don’t have insurance and don’t qualify for assistance. Also, if you can afford anything at all, you can RENT a CPAP. It isn’t cost efficient in thee long run, but in the short term it can help a lot. None of the other gimmicks will work. They are for normal snoring, not apnea. There is one alternative that can help if you sleep on your back.. for short term assistance until you figure out your machine options. get a towel and roll it and put it under your neck which will tip your chin towards the ceiling. If you can sleep like this, it will help. Not cure it or be perfect, but it will help.
I understand your problem because I was in the same situation. I’m glad that you already know that CPAP therapy, weight loss and surgery are the most effective treatments for your sleep apnea.
For me works an alternative treatment because I have a mild sleep apnea, but I don’t know how severe is your sleep disorder. I use a special belt that allows me to sleep on the side, not on my back. Anyway, here are some tips for you:
* try sleeping on your side rather than sleeping on your back as it can produce loud snores because of blockages.
* elevate the head when you sleep. This measure can alleviate snoring and make breathing easier.
* Use an air humidifier at nighttime to make the air moister.
* don’t smoke for at leas several hours before bedtime. Doing so, the smoke can cause the airways to tighten in the neck, worsening sleep apnea.
* Maintain regular sleep hours. In my case, I had to quit my shift work job, to have a normal sleep.
* Use a nasal dilator, saline nasal spray or breathe right strips to help open nasal passages.
I hope it helps!
no just sleep the hours you should get ok