Sleep apnea patients avoid treatment: CPAP device intolerance
Despite the growing number of Americans who suffer from sleepless nights, snoring, and serious medical consequences (estimated at over 15 million Americans), studies show that sleep apnea sufferers are avoiding treatment, and running serious health risks in the process.
Although the CPAP machine has proven itself to be almost 100% effective at treating sleep apnea, scientists are discovering that the catch phrase that goes along with that statistic is “if used properly”. It’s common knowledge that data can be interpreted in many ways, and often is misleading. In the case of the CPAP machine (continuous positive airway pressure machine), the numbers don’t lie. It is hands-down the most effective machine for treating sleep apnea, if it can be used as intended. To illustrate the point, check out the photo under “CPAP machine” on the “treatments” page on Dr. Blumenstock’s web site: http://www.sleep-apnea-dentist-nj.info/sleep_apnea_treatments.htm. If you have not looked, I will describe it for you here: a cousin to the World War II gas mask, with a band strapped around the head and neck, a plastic mask similar to those worn by hospital patients, connected to a large, fairly rigid plastic tube, all leading to the machine itself, which must be placed beside the bed and is about the size of a small humidifier. Though sleep apnea patients suffer from sleepless nights and oxygen deprivation, it’s hard to imagine that their quality of sleep is much improved when strapped to such apparatus, and it is doubtful that they don’t wake just as often by discomfort and hampered movements due to the cumbersome parts of the machine. Some patients complain that it also produces noise and chafes the skin intolerably.
Perhaps this explains the new CPAP machine effectiveness data: 50% or less. While many Americans are just beginning to realize that their “snoring problem” is really a more problematic health issue, with serious, long-term ramifications, it seems that the traditional, or most common remedy (the CPAP machine), is frequently ineffective or intolerable. Do not despair! This is one of the reasons that Dr. Blumenstock invests his time in maintaining an internet presence, with up-to-date information and solutions. It’s important for sleep apnea sufferers to understand that there are other treatments, and many patients are finding relief for the first time in years, based on advances in Dental Sleep Medicine.
If you are reading this article, odds are that you, or a loved one close to you, has been diagnosed with sleep apnea, or has symptoms of the condition. Do not rely upon word of mouth to convince you that there is no effective remedy for your suffering. Many diagnosed in the past were given the CPAP machine, and have either tolerated the machine, or given up on it in despair. New technologies have produced oral appliances and a variety of other approaches to effectively treat sleep apnea. Visit Dr. Blumenstock’s site today to learn more: http://www.sleep-apnea-dentist-nj.info/ His patient testimonials attest to his and their success!
