When you suffer from sleep apnea, it greatly affects the quality of your life. You may suffer from frequent and painful headaches, you might also find it difficult to focus or concentrate on your normal daily activities. Believe it or not, sleep apnea has a big impact on your personal and professional relationships. Continuous positive air pressure therapy, or CPAP, is the standard of care for treating sleep apnea, however many patients find it hard to wear at night. If you hate your CPAP, here’s an alternative option for sleep apnea treatment.
What is Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea occurs when your airway becomes obstructed during the night so that you can’t breathe. The lack of oxygen signals your brain to wake you up, and though you may not realize it, this can happen multiple, even hundreds of times during the night. Besides affecting your quality of life, sleep apnea has major consequences for your overall health. It can contribute to health concerns such as:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Cardiovascular disease or heart failure
- Weight gain
- Depression
- Headaches or migraines
What are Alternative Treatments for Sleep Apnea?
At iSleepSolutions, Dr. Pamela West has been providing CPAP alternative therapy for sleep apnea for over five years through customized oral appliances. She understands that every patient is unique, and this is why she uses her extensive knowledge and training to customize oral appliances for patients based on their individual needs.
Patients who suffer from mild to moderate sleep apnea, may benefit from using an oral appliance that slightly repositions their jaw or tongue in order to open up their airway and allow them to breathe freely during the night. Oral appliances are comfortable to wear and easy to get used to, making them a great alternative to CPAP therapy that isn’t working for you.
Patients who suffer from severe sleep apnea may benefit from a combined therapy of CPAP and oral appliance wear. Dr. West is happy to work alongside your general physician to determine what the most effective therapy will be for your needs.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with sleep apnea, we encourage you to contact our office and schedule a consultation with Dr. West to learn how she can help you reclaim your sleep!