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Sleep Apnea Treatments & CPAP Alternatives in Philadelphia, PA

A woman sleeping while wearing a CPAP machine

We Have Effective Solutions For Your Sleep Apnea

If you have sleep apnea, you’ll be happy to know that there are alternatives to the dreaded CPAP machine. Oftentimes, patients find that adjusting to the CPAP is too troublesome and give up on treatment altogether. 

Nearly half of patients stop using the machine within the first year or fail to start treatment due to the limitations and disadvantages that come with using the device. Now there are effective treatment alternatives so you can get the most out of your sleep without additional obstacles keeping you up at night. 

Dr. Slobodinsky offers a well-rounded treatment plan that includes an oral appliance in addition to certain lifestyle modifications to tackle the problem from every angle.

Why Patients Seek Alternatives to the CPAP Machine

CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure. It delivers air through a hose and a mask into your airway to prevent it from collapsing. While it’s an effective treatment for patients with severe sleep apnea, the forced air and bulky size of the device are the cause of many complaints. Patients report being dissatisfied with the device for various reasons, including:

  • Noisy
  • Inconvenient when traveling
  • Uncomfortable
  • Dry or stuffy nose
  • Feeling claustrophobic
  • Skin irritation or pressure sores
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Dry mouth

The Oral Appliance is Here

Due to many complaints, patients have searched for alternative treatment methods. Here at Sleep Well Philadelphia, we treat sleep apnea and snoring with the help of the Zyppah® Professional device. It works by gently shifting your jaw forward to help prevent your airway from collapsing.

The noiseless device resembles a retainer and it doesn’t contain any wires or tubes that can disrupt your sleep. We believe that the Zyppah® Professional device is the most effective and comfortable appliance for treating sleep apnea and snoring. Now you can get the treatment you need without the hassles of a CPAP machine.

Additional Treatment Recommendations

In addition to the use of an oral appliance, Dr. Slobodinsky may recommend certain lifestyle modifications so we can address underlying issues and you can get the most out of your treatment. Dr. Slobodinsky may recommend lifestyle alterations such as:

  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Participate in regular exercise
  • Positional therapy
  • Reducing alcohol and tobacco consumption
  • Throat exercises

In the most severe cases, surgery may be recommended after conservative treatments have proved to be unsuccessful. However, the surgery is invasive and only used as a last resort.

Put Your Worries to Rest

If you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea, Dr. Slobodinsky will form a well-rounded treatment plan to help improve your symptoms so you can rest soundly. Schedule a consultation by calling our office at (215) 739-2543 or simply fill out the contact form and we’ll get back to you shortly. Your road to recovery starts with a peaceful night’s rest.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is there any way to cure sleep apnea?
What are the risk factors for sleep apnea?
What are the different types of sleep apnea?
What happens if sleep apnea goes untreated?

Is there any way to cure sleep apnea?

For the most extensive patient cases, surgery may be required to eliminate symptoms associated with sleep apnea. However, this is only used as a last resort. Thankfully, Dr. Slobodinsky offers various ways of treating sleep apnea before surgery is even considered.

If you’re experiencing sleep apnea symptoms, schedule a consultation by calling (215) 739-2543. During the consultation, Dr. Slobodinsky will examine your symptoms and determine if you would benefit from a sleep study.

What are the risk factors for sleep apnea?

Risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea include:

  • Age — older patients are at a higher risk for sleep apnea
  • Gender — males are at a higher risk for sleep apnea
  • Excess weight
  • Circumference of the neck — thick necks may have narrower airways
  • Family history
  • Smoking
  • Alcohol use

Almost 80 percent of people with sleep apnea don’t realize they have it, so it’s important to get tested if you do show any of these risk factors. Getting diagnosed and treated can not only save your life, but it can also dramatically increase its quality.

What are the different types of sleep apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common form of sleep apnea and is caused by the relaxation of the muscles at the back of the throat. Because these muscles support the surrounding tissues, when they relax the airway closes as you breathe in and therefore disrupts the flow of oxygen into your lungs. Your brain wakes you up as soon as you stop breathing and it can be such a brief stimulus that you may not even remember waking up.

Central sleep apnea is less common and has more to do with your central nervous system. In these situations, your brain, your muscles, and your lungs simply aren’t communicating well. Treatment for central sleep apnea is very different from treatment for obstructive sleep apnea, so it’s important to know which one applies to you.

What happens if sleep apnea goes untreated?

If sleep apnea is untreated, it can have serious health consequences and even lead to premature death. Long-term health complications include:

  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Heart attacks
  • Strokes
  • High blood pressure

The sooner you begin treatment, the sooner you can begin reversing the damage caused by sleep apnea. If you have sleep apnea, schedule a consultation with Dr. Slobodinsky by calling (215) 739-2543. During the consultation, we’ll discuss your symptoms and determine if you would benefit from a sleep study so we can start treatment right away.

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