What if I can't get used to BiPap or CPAP?

What if you can't get used to the BiPAP or CPAP machine?

Some people have a Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), which involves removing part of the Uvula (the thing that hangs at the back of the throat). The theory behind it is that by removing part or all of the tissue at the back of the throat, it will open up the airway and allow a person to breath better. This only works in 40-50% of sleep apnea cases and sometimes requires "touch up" surgeries/procedures. Some of the side effects of the UPPP are scar tissue (making it difficult to breath), trouble swallowing, trouble drinking from straw and/or drinking fountain (liquid goes into nose), infection, and changes in voice frequency. A person must really do a lot a research and ask a lot of questions before deciding to do this surgery.

CPAP vs. BiPAP

So what is the difference between a CPAP machine and a BiPAP machine? A CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) basically keeps the airway open by creating a pressure. The only problem with the CPAP machine is that when you exhale you have to exhale against the pressure. A BiPAP (BiLevel Positive Airway Pressure) has two levels of pressure one for exhaling and one for inhaling. It makes it a lot easier to breath more naturally without as much muscular effort. Both machines can greatly decrease snoring! Usually to figure out if you need a CPAP or a BiPAP machine, you need to see you healthcare provider or doctor and have them recommend you for a sleep test. The sleep test will help determine how bad your sleep apnea is and what kind of machine you will need. Usually insurance will pay for most everything.

Sleep Apnea and getting help

Do you know someone who possibly has sleep apnea? Does this person go to bed at 8:00pm, wake up at 8:00am the next day and still seem tired? Do they make plans with you and then have to cancel because "they are too tired?" Sleep Apnea is a serious medical condition that can be both detrimental to you and your loved one. My husband has suffered from sleep apnea for years and seems to finally have it under control! Luckily, since we have great medical insurance, he has been able to go for several sleep tests. The first sleep study was one of the best nights of our lives! He finally had answers as to why he was so tired all the time and they even had a solution. He started out on a BiPAP (Bi-level positive airway pressure) machine with a full face mask. He then moved to the CPAP machine with just the noise mask. It made a world of difference!

Sleep Apnea

The more common of the two forms of apnea, it is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses during sleep.

Am I at Risk for Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea can affect anyone at any age, even children. However, risk factors for sleep apnea include:

* Male gender

* Being overweight

* Being over the age of forty

* Having a large neck size (17 inches or greater in men and 16 inches or greater in women)

* Having larger tonsils

* Having a family history of sleep apnea

What Are the Effects of Sleep Apnea?

If left untreated, sleep apnea can result in a growing number of health problems including:

* Hypertension

* Stroke

* Heart failure, irregular heart beats, and heart attacks

In addition, untreated sleep apnea may be responsible for poor performance in everyday activities, such as at work and school, motor vehicle crashes, as well as academic underachievement in children and adolescents.