CPAP best therapy for sleep apnea

The continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is the most effective treatment for the nighttime breathing disorder known as obstructive sleep apnea. CPAP therapy includes a machine that helps respiratory ventilation by pumping air through a mask while the patient is asleep. The system helps improve the quality of sleep both in the user and his/her partner through preventing airway collapse and snoring when the patient snores. However, the therapy may cause some side effects such as dry nose and mouth, nosebleeds, and chest discomfort; all of which may make the patients abandon CPAP treatment, according to a report funded by HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Another treatment using a mouthpiece called a mandibular advancement device can be highly effective for sleep apnea especially in patients who cannot use CPAP. The device keeps the airway open by moving the jaw forward. It may, however, damage the teeth. The report further suggests that weight loss and surgery may also be helpful but the evidence behind these treatments is not very strong. Obstructive sleep apnea is a chronic disorder that causes intermittent stops in breathing during sleep. The condition which is caused by repeated collapse of the upper airway not only disturbs the patient and his or her partner but also can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and increased risk of accidents because of daytime fatigue. "Obstructive sleep apnea is a frustrating and debilitating condition for so many Americans, and millions of people don't even know they have it. The resultant poor sleep and daytime sleepiness can lead to work-related or driving accidents," said Carolyn M. Clancy, AHRQ Director. "These guides and this new report will help patients and their doctors understand what treatment options might be best for them,” he added.