Here are several reasons :

*feeling of suffocation

*dry mouth, which is the most common side effect

*dryness of nose or nasal congestion

*mask discomfort

*the noise of the breathing machine

*the feeling of claustrophobia

Fortunately, there are solutions for these problems, and some of them are really effective. There is no issue that cannot be worked out, especially with the advanced technology of today.

The most common alternative for CPAP treatment is a <b>dental device</b> or an oral appliance. This device is used to relieve the upper airway obstruction and snoring by modifying the position of the mandible, tongue, and other oral structures.

An oral appliance also prevents the tongue from blocking the airway passages.

Before choosing this type of therapy is very important to consult your doctor. He knows that not all the appliances can help your breathing disorder.

However, there are some disadvantages here, and the most common complaint is discomfort and salivation.  The statistics show that this alternative therapy is more successful in patients with non-severe obstructive sleep apnea.

Bilevel positive airway pressure or BPAP is another alternative to CPAP machine, and they are more efficient. BPAP machines provides two pressure levels, one during inhalation and a lower one during exhalation. The pressure drop during exhalation is designed to increase comfort for patients who have trouble exhaling against an continuous incoming pressure, such as CPAP.

Behavioral therapy is an important part of your life when you are dealing with sleep apnea, and in mild cases this type of therapy may be all that is needed.

*you should avoid the use of alcohol, tobacco, and sleeping pills, which make the airway more likely to collapse during sleep.

*if you have problems with obesity, you can benefit from losing  weight. Even a 10 percent weight loss can reduce the number of apneic events for most patients.

*sleeping in a side position is often helpful. Try using a pillow or other device that may help you with this.

*Playing at didgeridoo –  this is the newest alternative to cpap treatment on the market, and is very well accepted by patients with moderate obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. This might be due to training of the muscles of the upper airways, which control airway dilation and wall stiffening.

Regular playing of a didgeridoo reduces daytime sleepiness and snoring in people with moderate obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and also improves the sleep quality of partners.

One final piece of advice:  A new field of medicine offers fertile ground for scams. Shameless people are quick to exploit people’s hopes and fears. Claims of miracle cures for sleep apnea are already germinating on internet. So, before trying an alternative treatment for CPAP, speak with your doctor about this option and listen to his opinion.

There are three types of sleep apnea are central sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea and complex sleep apnea (the combination of the two types). Central sleep apnea is caused by the imbalance of brain respiratory control center, while obstructive sleep apnea is caused by the obstruction of airway by decreased muscle tone or increased soft tissue around the airway (e.g. obesity or aging). Obstructive sleep apnea makes up about 84% of sleep apnea cases; the complex sleep apnea makes up about 15% and the central sleep apnea makes up 0.4%. [1]

The symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea commonly include loud snoring, restless sleep, and sleepiness during the daytime. The treatment of this type of sleep apnea is usually the use of breathing treatments, such as Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). Other habits that contribute to symptoms of sleep apnea is smoking, drinking alcohol, or losing large amounts of weight.

Due to the drop of oxygen level and increase of carbon dioxide level during sleep, hypoxia and hypercapnia are usually the results of central sleep apnea. Consequently, hypoxia and hypercapnia have effects on human body and could result in more serious health issues, angina, arrhythmias, heart attacks or at worst sudden death. [2]

Diagnostic tests of sleep apnea include home oximetry or polysomnograph readings in a sleep clinic.Oximeters that measures blood oxygen levels are a necessary device to measure normal stats in a person’s body while their asleep. According to the results of a study published in the Jan. 15 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine.

“The practical purpose of diagnostic assessment in most cases of obstructive sleep apnea is to predict which patients have symptoms that will improve on treatment. Portable monitors record primarily oxygen saturation, can be used at home without supervision, and are cheaper [than polysomnography].”

OctiveTech oximeters offer a flexible and affordable way for sleep apnea sufferers and their doctors to monitor their blood saturation during sleep. We especially recommend the handhelds that alarm at a certain low blood oxygen concentration.