The Side Effects of CPAP
In the United States, more than eight million people use CPAP, and that number grows by eight to nine percent every year. Patients with sleep apnea who use a CPAP machine, on the other hand, can have some of these usual side effects. Nasal congestion One of the most common side affects of CPAP therapy is congestion in the nose. This is because dry, compressed air is flowing through the sinuses. Some of the side effects are a stuffy or running nose, a burning feeling, or nosebleeds. Dry Mouth and Eyes Most of the time, you wake up with a dry mouth or throat because you breathed dry, forced air from a CPAP machine. When your mask leaks, the air that gets out can blow across your face and dry out your eyes while you sleep. You might not even notice because the amount of leaks can change depending on how you sleep. Bloating, Burping, and Gas When it's hard to breathe against the flow of constant positive airway pressure, it can end up going into your esophagus and making you swallow air. This is called aerophagia. Aerophagia causes people to feel full, burp, have stomach pain, and pass gas. Difficulty Exhaling Some people might find it hard to let out air against the constant flow. This can make you feel like you can't breathe even though you're getting enough air. Skin Irritation and Acne Because your CPAP mask can collect skin oils, dead skin cells, and sweat while you sleep, this can lead to a buildup of germs and bacteria that can cause skin sensitivity, rashes, acne, and sores. Claustrophobia Claustrophobia, which is an extreme or irrational fear of being in small spaces, can make it hard for new CPAP users to get used to how the mask and tubes feel. This is especially true for people who need a full-face mask. Even though the feeling generally goes away with time and practice, the fear can make it hard to use your CPAP machine regularly. Surgical Options Sleep apnea can be treated with surgery in a number of ways, based on how bad it is and how good your overall health is. Surgery makes the disease worse, lowers the chance of dying early and the risk of heart disease. Some sleep apnea surgical options include: • Using radiofrequency waves to shrink or remove tissues in the back of your throat, which opens up your airway. • Taking out extra tissue from the back of your mouth and the top of your throat. • Moving the jaw to make more room behind the tongue. • Tightening the tendons in the front of your tongue just a little bit. So, your tongue won't roll back and get in the way of your breathing. • Taking out a piece of your tongue's back. This opens up your lungs. • Taking out your tonsils and the tissue near the back of your mouth that is part of your tonsils. Your doctor may suggest this choice to help open up the bottom of your throat so you can breathe better. • Straightening your nasal septum, which can help make it easier to breathe by making your nasal openings more even. • Moving the hyoid bone and the muscles near it at the bottom of your tongue in your neck to open your mouth. Treating Sleep Apnea at Airway & Sleep Group If you don't like using a CPAP machine to treat your sleep apnea and would like to find out more about how surgery can help you, call our Reston office at (516) 628-7149 to make an appointment. You can also use our online contact form to get in touch, and we'll get back to you soon.
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