If you live with obstructive sleep apnea, you know how difficult it can be to get a good night of sleep. And if you use a CPAP device, you know how much more difficult it is to feel comfortable and sleep through the night.

You want to lose the mask, but that will only make your obstructive sleep apnea worse. Maybe there are some alternatives, though.

When it comes to obstructive sleep apnea, there’s no magic pill that will make the disorder go away, but there are some options to consider.

If you’re looking for ways to get rid of your CPAP device, there are some easy strategies and alternatives you can try.

You want to lose the mask, but that will only make your obstructive sleep apnea worse. Maybe there are some alternatives, though.

When it comes to obstructive sleep apnea, there’s no magic pill that will make the disorder go away, but there are some options to consider.

If you’re looking for ways to get rid of your CPAP device, there are some easy strategies and alternatives you can try.

Oral Sleep Apnea Appliance

First, talk to your dentist about an oral sleep apnea appliance. These devices are similar to mouthguards, and they help open up your airway while you sleep.

Oral sleep apnea devices have become a popular alternative in recent years, since wearing a mouthguard is much easier and more comfortable than a CPAP mask. If you’re not thrilled with this option, though, there are some others to consider.

Positional Sleep Therapy

Since obstructive sleep apnea is commonly aggravated and made worse by sleeping on one’s back, positional therapy can help alleviate symptoms.

Positional sleep therapy comes in a variety of forms, but its main goal is to train a patient to sleep on their side, since that position helps decrease the effects of obstructive sleep apnea.

Some patients use special braces that they wear around their waist that help prevent them from turning onto their back during the night.

These braces can be difficult to get used to, but they’ve provided many patients with results.

Weight Loss

Another non-CPAP option is weight-loss. While this alternative requires the most work, losing weight can reduce the severity of obstructive sleep apnea.

Patients who are overweight tend to have more tissue in their necks and throats. This can affect the severity of obstructive sleep apnea.

By losing weight, a patient can help trim down that area, alleviating stress on their throats that contributes to the disorder.

Lifestyle Changes

Furthermore, smoking as well as drinking alcohol can put stress on your airways, contributing to the severity of your obstructive sleep apnea.

Quitting smoking can help you breathe better while you sleep, in addition to numerous other health benefits, and abstaining from drinking or reducing how much you drink will help as well.

Lifestyle changes are difficult, but losing weight, quitting smoking, and cutting back on drinking can make a rapid impact on your obstructive sleep apnea.

Inspire Therapy

However, if you’ve tried all of these CPAP alternatives and nothing has done the trick for you, it’s time to consider another option, such as Inspire Therapy from Iowa City Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC).

Inspire is a breakthrough therapy for people with obstructive sleep apnea. While CPAP and oral appliances work from the outside in during sleep to prevent obstruction, Inspire Therapy works from the inside out.

If you’re interested in learning more about Inspire Therapy, you can learn more by checking out our blog. Be sure to check out our Inspire Therapy specialty page as well. You’ll learn more about the results our patients have found, and you can discover if you’re a candidate for Inspire Therapy.

Learn More About Inspire Therapy

If you are interested in learning more, or if you have questions about Inspire Therapy at Iowa City ASC, contact our team!

SUMMARY

If you live with obstructive sleep apnea, you know how difficult it can be to get a good night of sleep. And if you use a CPAP device, you know how much more difficult it is to feel comfortable and sleep through the night. Wouldn’t it be great if you could lose the mask? There are some alternatives to a CPAP device that might work for you, such as oral appliances, positional sleep therapy, lifestyle changes, and Inspire Therapy.