What is CPAP?

There are two different devices that can be used to treat sleep apnoea: continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and automatic positive airway pressure machines (APAP). CPAP works by blowing pressurized air at a constant pressure through a patient’s airway. This helps prevent the throat from collapsing. APAP is more sophisticated and will monitor every breath you take and then does a similar thing to a CPAP by blowing pressurized air through a patients airway with the difference being the pressure will vary according to your needs. This will increase and decrease accordingly throughout the night

Features of a CPAP Machine

  1. CPAP motor – This is a very small compressor which draws in air and pressurizes it, thus delivering the right amount of air pressure that’s needed to clear your throat. Newer versions of CPAP devices come with a water tank which helps in adding moisture to the air a patient breathes in. These particular versions are ideal for people living in dry
  2. CPAP hoses – This is a device that delivers pressurized air from the motor to the mask. The standard length for these hoses is 6 feet, although the diameter varies depending on the kind of machine you are using. Newer versions of these machines come with heated hoses that help in preventing moisture condensation caused by the humidifiers.
  3. CPAP mask – This part of the machine varies depending on the preferences of the user; hence they are available in different shapes and sizes. There are three types of masks you can choose from: nasal masks, full face masks and nasal pillows. It is very important that you choose a mask that is comfortable enough for you.

Results to expect

Such a machine can produce various benefits:

  1. You will find that you no longer snore or have any breathing obstructions.
  2. If you were suffering from high blood pressure, you will find your blood pressure levels significantly reduced.
  3. The grogginess and fatigue you experienced as a result of sleep apnoea will be gone. Instead, you will find yourself more alert throughout the day.
  4. CPAP helps in eliminating any chances you had of developing a heart attack or stroke.
  5. Because your breathing is no longer obstructed, you will find that your quality of sleep has improved greatly.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnoea is a common sleep disorder that affects about one in every fifteen people. It arises when a person’s breathing during sleep is interrupted. It may happen once or even multiple times in one night. This condition is dangerous because it means that the brain and other parts of the body will not get enough oxygen.

Sleep apnoea comes in two forms: obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and central sleep apnoea, with the former being more common than the latter. OSA happens when the airway passage is blocked by collapsed soft tissue found in the back of the throat.

If left untreated for a long time, it can cause other conditions such as stroke, high blood pressure, depression, diabetes, headaches, heart failure and irregular heartbeats. Because the body is not being supplied with enough oxygen and their brain is experiencing disrupted quality sleep, a person often feels sluggish leading to poor performance in daily activities. Hence, necessitating treatment using a CPAP Machine.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder that affects about one in every fifteen people. It arises when a person’s breathing during sleep is interrupted. It may happen once or even multiple times in one night. This condition is dangerous because it means that the brain and other parts of the body will not get enough oxygen.

Sleep apnoea comes in two forms: obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and central sleep apnoea, with the former being more common than the latter. OSA happens when the airway passage is blocked by collapsed soft tissue found in the back of the throat.

If left untreated for a long time, it can cause other conditions such as stroke, high blood pressure, depression, diabetes, headaches, heart failure and irregular heartbeats. Because the body is not being supplied with enough oxygen and their brain is experiencing disrupted quality sleep, a person often feels sluggish leading to poor performance in daily activities. Hence, necessitating treatment using a CPAP Machine.

Results to expect

  1. CPAP motor – This is a very small compressor which draws in air and pressurizes it, thus delivering the right amount of air pressure that’s needed to clear your throat. Newer versions of CPAP devices come with a water tank which helps in adding moisture to the air a patient breathes in. These particular versions are ideal for people living in dry

 

  1. CPAP hoses – This is a device that delivers pressurized air from the motor to the mask. The standard length for these hoses is 6 feet, although the diameter varies depending on the kind of machine you are using. Newer versions of these machines come with heated hoses that help in preventing moisture condensation caused by the humidifiers.

 

  1. CPAP mask – This part of the machine varies depending on the preferences of the user; hence they are available in different shapes and sizes. There are three types of masks you can choose from: nasal masks, full face masks and nasal pillows. It is very important that you choose a mask that is comfortable enough for you.

What is MyTAP?

MyTAP is one of the most effective treatments for sleep apnea and snoring. The TAP is an oral appliance that has been used effectively to treat snoring, and it is on this design that MyTAP was based. Its predecessor has already been proven to be very effective at treating Obstructive Sleep Apnea, snoring and severe apnea. MyTAP moulds to your teeth thanks to the thermoacrylic plastic that the trays are made from. Once heated, the plastic softens, thus taking on the shape of your teeth, and can be reheated again on to be shaped and fitted differently, if need be.

MyTAP helps in preventing the soft tissues of both the throat and tongue from collapsing, which is what causes sleep apnea and snoring. It does this by stabilizing the mandible. The lower and upper tray of the device are attached to an adjustment dial which enables the patient to control the mandible, causing it to face forward. This device gives the patient control of the device, allowing him/her to make any adjustments whenever necessary.

Why Use a MyTAP Machine?

The “Precision-Fit” feature that comes with the MyTAP was created by Airway Management and allows for moulding and a tight fit, offering a feature that is rarely seen in similar devices. Additionally, patients can enjoy having thinner trays which will lead to better quality sleep for them.

Benchmark Sleep Services understands that a CPAP device may not be the most comfortable to use for everyone. That is why we have other options available that cater to people who snore or are uncomfortable with using a CPAP device.

When the back of the throat collapses or when the tongue falls back into the throat, the airway is either narrowed or blocked. This means that not enough air enters the body. The constriction causes vibrations which you we commonly refer to as snores. For most people snoring is often embarrassing and can affect the amount of sleep you get, especially if you are aware that you snore. For some, snoring may be a deal breaker in relationships, further stressing the snorer out. Sometimes, snoring is a warning of the patient suffering from a more serious condition that is known as sleep apnea.

The go to option for treating Obstructive sleep apnea is a CPAP machine. Most CPAP machines tend to have a single pressure, which some patients cannot tolerate. If you have recently been diagnosed with sleep apnea, and your doctor has recommended CPAP, but you can’t tolerate it, there are other alternatives you can choose. One such alternative is an oral appliance.

How it Works

Sleep apnea is as a result of your tongue or throat tissue causing obstruction in your airway, leading to snoring. An oral appliance works by stabilizing the lower jaw by attaching it to the upper jaw. The appliance is then able to control the movement of the lower jaw which in turn helps in preventing the tongue from falling back into the airway which eventually treats the snoring and the sleep apnea.

Is it an Effective Form of Treatment?

Most oral devices that are manufactured by dentists tend to be very expensive, and for the most part, do not work as they should. MyTap is a more affordable and effective solution which can help determine whether introducing airway pressure will help treat your condition. If so, then you can go ahead to invest in a more expensive device tailor made for you.

There is quite the debate on whether oral appliances are really effective at treating sleep apnea and snoring. What most can agree on is that these devices seem to treat snoring more effectively than they do sleep apnea. When it comes to treating sleep apnea, the lines are a bit blurred but below is a guide on the effectiveness of an oral appliance.

1. If you only suffer from snoring, then an oral appliance will work well for you.

2. The devices will aid in treating 50% of the cases of mild to moderate sleep apnea.

3. As much as 10% of severe sleep apnea cases can be treated by an oral appliance.