Anti-snoring Mouthpiece

Absolutely get a sleep study. I'd almost guarantee your insurance will pay for it. My DH quit breathing 63 times an hour. Yes, more than once a minute. He would fall asleep standing up and reading the newspaper. Fell asleep coming home. Snored like crazy- but his was also that 'stop breathing, snort, gasp, then breathe' thing.... it woke me up too.

His study was two days total, one without the cpap and then one with. It's made a world of difference and no doubt saved his life. Do try out different masks/cannulas. He didn't like the nose pillows and said it feels like some big guy had his fingers up his nose all night. He's with a Fisher-Paykel mask now that he loves. He's had the cpap and the oxygen machine for several years now.

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" It's better to ride even if you get thrown, than to wind up just wishin' ya had."

Chris Ledoux

My Opus nasal pillows are the most lightweight leakfree headware that I've ever tried. I wish that I could use them.

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"Do you believe in the devil? You know, a supreme evil being dedicated to the temptation, corruption, and destruction of man?" Hobbs
"I'm not sure that man needs the help." Calvin

First, I'm glad to see that people are taking this seriously. Unfortunately, as was alluded to, there are even some physicians who do not. I had to be a thorn in my dad's physician's backside before he would do a sleep study which confirmed that my dad had severe sleep apnea. It had gone untreated for over 20 years.

The nasal strips, dental devices, surgeries, etc., will only work if they are targeting the actual underlying problem. For some it is, in fact, their facial structure or sinus issues. However, for most people, it is extra weight which causes the airway to close during sleep. Hence snoring, because you are trying to force air through a closed or semi-closed airway. A sleep study (or "polysomnography"- it measures breathing rate, oxygen saturation, number of "apneas", muscle movement, brain activity, etc.), which most insurance companies pay for, will help determine the underlying cause and most appropriate treatment. Which, for most people, is the CPAP machine. It works by essentially forcing your airway open. I should mention that alcohol and some medications can exacerbate the effects of sleep apnea.

Appropriate treatment is very important because untreated sleep apnea is a risk factor for multiple health conditions, including stroke and cognitive decline. It also affects mood. It is a huge risk factor for car crashes and work related accidents.

Yes, the CPAP machine is uncomfortable at first. Yet it is literally a life saver, and dare I assert that the annoyances are worth the potential benefits. It can take several months to acclimate to the thing. Most people who push through and wear it eventually find that they notice a huge difference in their daily functioning and quality of life. If your mask is uncomfortable, take it back to the home health store and try a different size, style, or some of the other numerous comfort measures that are available now (i.e., moisturized air so it doesn't dry you out).

P.S. No, I do not sell CPAP machines or sleep study equipment or work at a sleep disorders clinic : )

[stepping off soapbox now]