Alternatives to CPAP Therapy
CPAP (Continue Positive Airway Pressure) therapy is still the top choice for sleep apnea around – and for good reason! However, there are certain cases and times that it is not convenient. Enter EPAP therapy, or Expiratory Positive Airway Pressure. Instead of a generated pressure keeping your airway open, a device partially blocks your exhaled air, creating back-pressure. We carry 2 products that use this technology: Theravent and Provent. There are also mouth guards that can help – talk to your dentist about that, and if all else fails – surgery may help.
Theravent is a snore-therapy system, t does not treat sleep apnea. Since some snore heavier then others, it is available in 3 different strengths to stop the vibration. You can try them here. After that, you can order packs of 20. Whether you want to use them daily or only when other people can hear you is up to you! Theravent is a strip that has an adhesive around the outside that sticks to the skin around your nostrils. In the middle is a one-way valve, allowing free inhaling, and on exhale some of the valves close, creating a slight pressure. You know it’s sealed when there are no leaks and you will feel a slight resistance when you breathe out. This pressure reduces the vibrations that cause the snoring sound.
Provent, on the other hand, is for treating certain types of sleep apnea, and does require a prescription. We cannot tell you if you would be a good fit – your sleep doctor will be able to recommend it. In general, it can treat mild to moderate sleep apnea. It uses a similar method to Theravent, by creating back-pressure, but is specially formulated to create the right pressure to treat sleep apnea. Instead of 1 patch, it has 2, one for each nostril. You want to carefully apply each before bed. The back-pressure Provent creates can keep your airway open to a certain degree. Again, CPAP is still the best option for sleep apnea, but if you are a frequent traveler or like camping, this may be the next to discuss with your sleep doctor. If you’re interested, talk to your doctor.