What Is CPAP Intolerance?
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) intolerance is the inability to tolerate a CPAP mask as treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. While CPAP is the most common treatment, and often considered the gold standard for the treatment of sleep apnea, not everyone tolerates it well.
The Problem of CPAP Intolerance
The biggest problem with CPAP intolerance is that most patients accept the CPAP as the only form of treatment, take the machine home, but don’t use it. Their physician may believe that they have addressed the medical issue satisfactorily, while the patient continues to suffer, unwilling to admit that the CPAP is a problem. In the meantime, by not actively treating the sleep apnea, other health complications will continue to get worse. Sleep apnea is responsible for an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and many other health issues.
If You Don’t Wear Your CPAP, Don’t Give Up on Treatment
It’s bad for your health (and the health of the person who tries to sleep through your snoring) to skip treatment altogether. If the CPAP is not working for you, or if you see a physician who insists CPAP is the only effective treatment, it’s time to seek alternatives – in treatment or in physicians. There are alternatives to CPAP that are highly effective – even more so because patients are willing to comply with the treatment.
Find a CPAP Alternative that Fits Your Needs
For some people, the CPAP is simply incompatible with their lifestyles. If you travel frequently, if the CPAP machine interferes with your quality of life, we can help you find an alternative that suits you better – one that you are more likely to comply with.
At eos dental sleep in Philadelphia, oral appliance therapy (OAT) is a proven alternative CPAP treatment option for patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea, and those patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who are unable to tolerate CPAP machines. While continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is generally the first line of treatment for sleep apnea, many patients prefer an oral appliance as a CPAP alternative. If you are suffering from chronic snoring or sleep apnea and looking for a CPAP alternative, schedule an oral appliance therapy consultation at eos dental sleep today. Our dental sleep medicine physician in Center City, Philadelphia looks forward to helping you get the peaceful and restorative night’s sleep that you deserve.