On the other hand, if your sleep quality wasn’t poor before beginning CPAP treatment, you may not notice a big difference once you start sleep therapy. Keep in mind that some people with sleep apnea may wake up 15 to 20 times per hour while others may only wake up a few times per hour. If you have a very mild form of sleep apnea and have been largely asymptomatic, you may not notice any improvement throughout treatment.
There’s pelo denying that sleep apnea treatment can cause a person to experience certain side effects, and chances are, it’s not going to be comfortable in the beginning—your body may simply need time to adjust to CPAP treatment.
Silver also recommends positional therapy to reduce sleep apnea events, especially for people whose events primarily occur when they sleep in specific positions, typically on their back.
It may take a few months, but the good news is that when your CPAP treatment does start working for you, you will feel less tired and better than you have in awhile.
While lifestyle changes like exercise, weight loss and modified sleeping positions can be helpful, these modifications may not be enough to improve moderate to severe OSA on their own, and an alternative treatment like a custom oral appliance might be suggested to open the airway.
OSA is a sleep disorder where your upper airway—nasal cavities, oral cavity, throat, and voice box—narrows and restricts your breathing, causing reduced airflow and lower blood oxygen levels.
Medical Disclaimer: The following content should not be used as medical advice or as a recommendation for any specific supplement or medication. It is important to consult your health care provider prior to starting a new medication or altering your current dosage.
Customer Service Expert Carol says: December 18, 2019 at 12:12 pm Hi Dorothy, my apologies for the delayed response. I’ve spoken with CPAP users that have the very complaint you have. What I have found is that initially you may gain weight, but over time you may not eat as much as you were before starting CPAP therapy.
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How does CPAP work? CPAP machines work by generating an air stream that keeps the upper airway open during sleep. There are lots of different machines available and modern devices are small, comfortable and easy to use. The air stream is pushed through tubing via a mask to the back of the throat.
Some doctors may recommend bariatric surgery to aid in weight loss. Physical therapy and positional therapy may also improve symptoms.
Weight here loss surgery isn’t for everyone, but it can be an effective solution. The American Thoracic Society recommends gastric bypass surgery in people with a body mass index (BMI)ⓘ Body mass index (BMI) measures body fat based on height and weight. of 35 or higher to improve OSA. A recent study showed bariatric surgery, which is a procedure removing the portion of your stomach producing the hormone ghrelin—which signals hunger to your brain—improved OSA and caused remission in 65% of patients. [10]Oweidat K, et al. Sleep and Breathing. May 5, 2023.
Some evidence also suggests myofunctional therapy, which features exercises to strengthen the upper airway, can help with sleep apnea, Dr. Cacho adds. Myofunctional therapy is an exercise program used to correct abnormal movements of the face and mouth. It might be conducted by a speech and language pathologist or other health care provider who has a certification of orofacial myology.