What Happens if I Stop My CPAP Therapy in Jupiter?

CPAP therapy in Jupiter has helped countless individuals to find relief from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and a higher quality of life. However, some people dislike their CPAP. They may find it uncomfortable or noisy. Thus, they may be tempted to stop using it. If that is true of you, what can you expect to happen when you stop using your CPAP? Are there alternative sleep apnea therapies that may be able to help you? Let’s discuss these important questions.

Do Not Stop Treatment Altogether

It is important that you understand how vital sleep apnea treatment is. If you stop using your CPAP without consulting your doctor, and you do not begin an alternative treatment, your OSA symptoms may quickly return. You may go back to snoring loudly and feeling drowsy on a daily basis. After a prolonged period without treatment, your risk of a number of serious health conditions, such as obesity and cardiovascular illness, will increase.

CPAP Alternatives

To explore CPAP alternatives, visit a doctor who is an expert on sleep apnea in Jupiter. They may recommend one of the following treatments:

Surgery

In some cases, structural defects in the mouth or throat are the culprit OSA. For example, a large tongue or a narrow jaw may be to blame. Corrective surgery can address such issues and allow you to breathe easily at night without a CPAP machine. Many doctors reserve surgery as a last resort to treat OSA; they may perform it only for individuals with moderate to severe symptoms.

Lifestyle Adjustments

Weight loss, sleeping on your side rather than on your back, reducing your alcohol consumption, and training your tongue to have a proper resting position may all play role in reducing or eliminating your OSA symptoms. However, you should not assume that any changes you make will automatically lead to OSA relief. You should work closely with your doctor to monitor your condition.

Oral Appliance Therapy

A mandibular advancement appliance, sometimes simply called an oral sleep appliance, is custom-made device that gently moves the jaw forward. It thus increases the size of the upper airway and reduces the air resistance that leads to pauses in breathing at night. Many individuals with mild to severe OSA have found that an oral sleep appliance is the ideal treatment for them. Such devices are silent, highly portable, and designed to optimize patient comfort. In some cases, an oral appliance can be used along with a CPAP; the appliance allows patients to put their CPAP machine on a lower setting.

Do you find your CPAP to be bothersome? Visit a sleep medicine expert who can help you consider other treatments that may be able to address your OSA.

About the Author

Dr. Kenneth Mogell is a dental sleep medicine expert who has helped countless patients throughout the Jupiter area to experience the benefits of oral sleep appliance therapy. If you would like to discuss your OSA with Dr. Mogell to find out if an oral appliance could benefit you, contact our Jupiter office today at 561-531-0590.