Posted on 04/17/2024 12:28:49 PM PDT by Red Badger
The SomnoDent Flex®, the mandibular advancement device (MAD) used in the study. Somno Med AU
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Obstructive sleep apnea can cause or contribute to high blood pressure, so a new study examined which sleep apnea treatments – a CPAP machine or a mouthguard that keeps the airways open – was more effective at lowering blood pressure.
Medications are the first-line treatment for high blood pressure, otherwise known as hypertension. However, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which can cause and/or exacerbate hypertension, is being recognized as an underdiagnosed and modifiable risk factor. The most common sleep-rated breathing disorder, OSA is caused by the collapse of the upper airway during sleep, which leads to frequent sleep interruptions, up to 30 times an hour, all night long.
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) delivered via a face or nasal mask is often used to treat OSA. An alternative treatment is a mandibular advancement device or MAD. Similar to a bite guard, a MAD holds the lower jaw (mandible) and tongue forward, keeping the airway open. There are pros and cons for both. CPAP, while effective, tends to be uncomfortable, so it’s poorly tolerated. MADs are less intrusive, but studies have shown they’re outperformed by CPAP when it comes to the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), the number of times airflow fully (apnea) or partially (hypopnea) stops per hour during sleep.
Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the University of Sydney conducted a randomized controlled trial to compare the effectiveness of MAD and CPAP in reducing hypertension in patients with moderate-to-severe OSA.
(Excerpt) Read more at newatlas.com ...
The device you are talking about is a Pulse Oximeter finger probe.
They can give wrong readings based on blood flow mainly. But they are accurate usually.
And let me add...plenty of folks I have treated live in the the high 80's via POX,,,,Usually they have COPD..usually from a 40-50 year history of smoking 2 packs a day.
FWIW
That’s one advantage of the CPAP, the display at the end of the night tells you if it is working fine.
I think it is just better to learn to sleep with the CPAP.
It takes some self-discipline, but it’s worth it.
(of course if self-discipline was present, most people could lose weight and end the need for a CPAP. In my case, I am not overweight, but have a big neck)
What is POX?
Pulse Oximeter....you can buy one on-line for like $30
Red Badger, do you work for the mouthpiece folk?
I have a ProSomnus mouthguard. Works really well. Cost me about $1500 but I make it through most nights now without getting kicked out for snoring.
Sleep study place in Fairbanks ALWAYS without fail recommends a CPAP machines as a result for all their studies. I have talked to several people that have gotten a study done and it is always the same. They’ve got a link to the company that issues CPAP machines in town, can you believe it!? It is a scam.
My wife uses a dental device, and does just fine without the added expense & hassle of masks and tubes and power requirements. Went to the dentist for it.
I have used both and don’t really agree.
Bookmark
bfl
No, I just post stuff that I think people will be interested in..
.....
I want to die peacefully in my sleep,like my grandfather, not screaming in terror like his passengers.😜
A lot of CPAP users have trouble breathing through their nose and require a full face mask.
Does a mouthguard force breathing through the mouth or nose, or is it either/or?
When I first got mine 10-15 years ago, I slept on my back and barely moved. On my second machine and I sleep on my stomach, back and I hardly notice it unless the seal breaks. Very blessed it works for me. Guy I worked with went to an ENT who lasered his throat to tighten up the tissue. Said its good for about 5 years before yo have to do it again.
I get pretty consistent results from a finger pulse oximeter. The Fitbit Charge 5 does a good job IF it fits properly on the wrist. Too loose or tight and you get a poor result. You also must sleep continuously for 3 hours or more to get a valid SPO2 from a Charge 5. I've had measurements from 89% to 98% from the Charge 5. The 98% was no CPAP and at sea level. At home (4600 ft AMSL), I have less oxygen in the air. Best on-wrist reading has been 95% (with or without CPAP).
I started with a full face mask. No good. I sleep on my side and I kept have itching under the mask. Next, I tried a nasal cradle. It would not stay aligned to my nostrils. Finally, I ordered a nasal pillow. That has a per nostril pillow that centers perfectly and stays aligned. The hose connects using a right-angle swivel on a fitting at the top of the head. Good for side and back sleeping. As with any nasal approach, you must keep you mouth closed. If your mouth opens, you make "darth vader" noises and have a very dry mouth.
My current head gear is a P30i from ResMed.
When i realized i just need a nose mask, it was even easier. I just sleep on my back and don’t move so no problem there.
I’ve used a CPAP for over 10 years now - started with a Phillips System One, then bought a ResMed AirSense 10 when the System One got too noisy and cranky - they sent me a Dream Machine to replace the System One for the recall, but I had already bought the AirSense out of pocket (thecpapshop.com) without using insurance. I use a ResMed nose pillow mask with Swift headgear, with a chin strap to keep my mouth from flopping open.
I like it - not sure I could sleep without it now. The AirSense machine is really quiet and doesn’t disturb my wife, and I usually sleep well. The air pressure even helps to keep my cranky sinuses clear during the night.
That said, I agree that the sleep doctors don’t seem interested in anything other than a CPAP when sleep apnea is diagnosed. Insurance companies and medical supply houses must be making bank selling an $800 air pump for $2500 insured cost and splitting the swag. I paid about $800 for the AirSense machine out of pocket without claiming on insurance, my original System One was $2500 from the medical supply house through insurance, with about $600 out of pocket cost because I have a device deductible.
I’m fortunate that the CPAP works for me - I have talked to others that struggle to use one.
“... a MAD holds the lower jaw (mandible) and tongue forward, keeping the airway open.”
My sleep doctor wasn’t happy with my CPAP alone, and suggested I get one of these. I’m sure it works for most folks, but I have to make this public service announcement:
Make sure your teeth are in good shape, as these guards put some pressure on them when worn, simply because the guard is pushing against some of them to reposition your jaw. In my case, it cracked a tooth that had been filled decades ago, and that set off a chain of events that hasn’t been pretty.
If your teeth are fine, go for it. If not, just get used to the machine... (I use a BiPAP now, and not a CPAP, and that helps.)
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