CPAP product reviews and other helpful tips for CPAP users!

CPAP therapy is incredibly common these days, but it’s not your only option when it comes to dealing with sleep apnea. If you’ve been struggling with CPAP therapy or you’re looking for a milder form of sleep apnea treatment, keep reading to find out everything you need to know about sleep apnea and alternatives to CPAP therapy.

What is CPAP Therapy?

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is one of the most common treatments for those suffering from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a type of sleeping disorder that affects breathing throughout the night, causing you to start and stop breathing periodically. It can range from mild to severe and can affect everything from your sleep quality to your heart health.

Mild sleep apnea might cause disruptive sleep and fatigue the next day, but severe sleep apnea can lead to a range of health risks, including diabetes, high blood pressure, liver problems, and more.

Types of Sleep Apnea

There are three main types of sleep apnea and understanding which type you might have can help you take the right steps to improve your sleep and overall health.

Central sleep apnea

This happens when your brain doesn’t send the right signals to your muscles that control your breathing, causing you to stop and start breathing while sleeping. This type of sleep apnea doesn’t cause snoring, but can lead to those suffering from it to suddenly wake up feeling panicked or short of breath.

Obstructive sleep apnea

This is a more common form of sleep apnea that occurs when there’s an obstruction in the mouth or throat that makes breathing more difficult during sleep. This obstruction is typically when the tissues and muscles of the airway relax, making it harder for air to flow through. It often leads to snoring and difficulty sleeping.

Complex sleep apnea

This is a combination of both central and obstructive sleep apnea, and may require multiple forms of treatment.

What is Positional Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Positional Obstructive Sleep Apnea (POSA) is a form of obstructive sleep apnea that can be mostly attributed to sleep position. It generally occurs when sleeping in the supine position, meaning flat on your back. This position affects the shape of the airway, and makes it harder to breathe while sleeping.

POSA can not only make it tough to get a good night’s sleep, but can also have more serious effects, including stroke, diabetes, heart attack, and more. The repeated low oxygen levels combined with elevated blood pressure and heart rate can be incredibly hard on the body. It’s critical to treat any form of sleep apnea, including POSA, to maintain good health and prevent more serious conditions from developing.

Alternatives to CPAP Therapy

It’s important to treat sleep apnea, but treatment isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Some people might struggle with CPAP therapy, or find that it doesn’t work effectively. This is where alternatives to CPAP therapy come into play.

These two options are great for those who are looking for a less intense form of sleep apnea therapy that helps them get the rest they need while keeping their sleep apnea in check.

ZZoma Positional Sleep Device

This medical device is a great solution for those suffering from positional obstructive sleep apnea. It’s an FDA-cleared device that helps treat mild to moderate POSA by helping you stay in the side-sleeping position throughout the night. By preventing you from rolling onto your back, which is where POSA affects most people, the ZZoma device can help alleviate sleep apnea symptoms. It’s also incredibly comfortable, so you can get the undisturbed sleep you need, night after night.

OptiPillows EPAP Mask

Another great option for alternatives to CPAP therapy is the EPAP mask. It works just like CPAP therapy, but without any tubing or machines and you don’t need a prescription for it. If you have mild obstructive sleep apnea, you’re going to want to try this FDA-cleared mask: it uses Expiratory Positive Airway Pressure (EPAP) therapy to keep airways open and improve sleep quality. It’s lightweight and comfortable, making it sleep while wearing, and is reusable. Plus, the OptiPillows EPAP mask is the only one on the market that lets you adjust the pressure to your unique needs.

Improved Sleep on Your Terms

If you’ve tried CPAP therapy and haven’t found success, or if your sleep apnea is mild, alternatives to CPAP therapy can help you sleep better and reduce your sleep apnea symptoms. Everyone’s needs are different, so exploring your options can help you find what works best for you and your sleep, so you can get back to feeling like yourself.

CPAP Therapy has been clinically proven and labelled the 'gold standard' treatment for Sleep Apnea for a long time. Its non-invasive constant pressurized airflow in and out from a machine delivered to you via a mask has nearly 100% success performance rate. The most challenging obstacle for CPAP therapy is getting people compliant and comfortable with therapy.  

Many of our clients have heard about expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) and often ask us about it. Here at CPAPmachines.ca, we don't sell EPAP therapy, but doctors have recommended it as an alternative method to treat OSA (along with positional devices, oral appliances and surgery) when CPAP therapy isn't right for their patients.

What is this form of Sleep Apnea therapy you ask? Great question. Keep reading as we breakdown down what EPAP is and provide an overview of this technology in treating OSA.

What Is EPAP Therapy? 

EPAP therapy is an alternative treatment option for many OSA patients. This type of modern technology builds resistance on your exhalation to create positive pressure pushing back against your soft tissues to keep your airway open. The theory behind it is as your airway collapses during exhalations it results in apneic episodes or snoring. When positive pressure is delivered as your exhale, it will help to keep your airway open during sleep.

Provent and Theravent Therapy

Two products on the market that treat Sleep Apnea with this technology are Provent Therapy and Thervent Therapy. These products include no machines, masks, tubing or distilled water. EPAP Provent Therapy and Theravent Therapy are marketed as disposable nasal patches you attach to your nostrils and claim to be a revolutionary alternative to CPAP, which is less invasive and lightweight.

How This Form Of Sleep Apnea Therapy Works 

Simply put, the technology allows you to breathe in the air normally but makes exhaling more difficult. It's done via mini microvalves for unobstructed airflow in and the microvalves close during expiration restricting airflow creating EPAP pressure. As a result, it keeps your airways open.  Just like CPAP, this type of EPAP Therapy requires a prescription.

What's The Difference Between CPAP and EPAP Therapy?

CPAP therapy which stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure provides pressure on both the inhalation and exhalation delivered by a motorized machine and mask. While the EPAP Expiratory Positive Airway Pressure is a one-way resistor you attach to your nostrils and creates resistance pressures only during the exhalation process. According to Provent's manufacturers, Provent Sleep Therapy, LLC, Provent patches have been shown to be effective in clinical studies and has shown improvements across various forms of OSA.

The Ugly Truth of EPAP Therapy

Whether or not insurance covers this type of OSA therapy, users have reported that using disposable patches can add up. At about $2USD a pair, you're shelling out hundreds of dollars over the course of just one year. Some may argue the cost is more than the cost of a CPAP machine or mouth guard over time. 

Another negative of this product is if you suffer from any type of sinus or nasal blockage, this product is completely not suitable or usable.  If you're sick for a week or two, you basically cannot use it the entire duration of your cold and symptoms of your apnea may creep back.  

How To Know If EPAP Therapy Is Right For You?

Just like CPAP therapy, EPAP therapy and other forms of Sleep Apnea therapy is not for everyone. Provent has been used to treat mild and moderate Apnea and is not often recommended for those with severe (AHI >30). Be sure to consult with your doctor and always follow your doctor's recommendations.

For us here at CPAPmachines.ca, patients always ask about EPAP products and our experience with them. At the end of the day, everyone is different. It may work for some and not for others. It's an alternative sleep therapy option if you really want to give it a try. 

Remember, with everything, there are always pros and cons and you will have to weigh out the two.  However, for us, we'll stick with the gold standard CPAP therapy - the reputation didn't come without good results.