Newest sleep apnea treatments include medications like tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound) for weight-loss-related apnea, implantable nerve stimulators (like Inspire) for tongue movement, devices that use electrical pulses (e.g., eXciteOSA for mild cases), and promising experimental options like targeted nerve stimulation, cryotherapy for fat reduction in airways, and a novel oral pill (AD109) in trials. These advancements offer alternatives to traditional CPAP, focusing on nerve stimulation, weight management, or airway stimulation for improved breathing during sleep, notes the Mayo Clinic and other sources.
Inspire Nerve Stimulator (Now Available)
Inspire is an implant device offered in select Australian clinics and approved by the TGA. It targets moderate to severe OSA in people unable to use CPAP.
Highlights. Sleep hypopnea is defined as a drop of ≥30% in breathing amplitude and in oxygen saturation >3% (AASMedicine), or >4% (CMMS). This study reveals a systematic bias, with the 3% criterion consistently yielding higher apnea/hypopnea index values.
Continuous positive airway pressure, also called CPAP.
The greater pressure is just enough to keep your upper airway passages open, preventing apnea and snoring. Although CPAP is the most common and reliable method of treating sleep apnea, some people find it cumbersome and not comfortable.
Inspire therapy is a mask-free4 solution for people with obstructive sleep apnea who have tried and struggled with CPAP. Through a simple-to-use system including the Inspire® implant, remote and app, Inspire therapy enables you to control your OSA treatment from the palm of your hand.
In-nose devices often promise a mask-free solution, suggesting they deliver the same therapeutic pressure as traditional CPAP machines. However, experts and users report that these devices are incapable of generating the airflow or pressure necessary to treat obstructive sleep apnea effectively.
A common treatment includes wearing a CPAP, or continuous positive airway pressure, mask to deliver air pressure into the airways to keep them open. But now there's a new option. The FDA recently approved tirzepatide (Zepbound) for adults with obesity and moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Various alternative machine types may be options for patients who have sleep apnea and are not seeing the desired results from their CPAP machine. These include: Bilevel-positive airway pressure (BiPAP or BPAP) machines. Auto-adjusting positive airway pressure (APAP) machine.
Like many sufferers, Shaq was unaware that he had sleep apnea until his partner told him about his pattern of snoring and gasping for breath. After completing a sleep study and being diagnosed with moderate sleep apnea, Shaq was fitted with a CPAP mask to get a better night's rest.
CPAP therapy often leads to improved alertness, reduced daytime sleepiness, and better cognitive function, sometimes after just one night of use.
You have more than 30 episodes per hour. Moderate obstructive sleep apnea means that your AHI is between 15 and 30. Mild obstructive sleep apnea means that your AHI is between 5 and 15. Normal sleep means that your AHI is less than five.
For those with sleep apnea, the goal is to keep the airways open during sleep. Elevating the head slightly can help, but using too many pillows can cause the head to tilt forward, potentially worsening the condition. One or two pillows offering firm support and aligning the head and neck are usually recommended.
Some potential side effects and risks of using Inspire for sleep apnea include: Pain, discomfort, or irritation around the implanted device or leads. Device malfunction or failure. Nerve injury or damage during the sleep surgery leading to temporary or permanent changes in sensation or muscle function.
The best sleep apnea machines in Australia are generally considered to be the ResMed AirSense 11 AutoSet for its smart features and comfort, alongside strong options like the Philips DreamStation 2 and Fisher & Paykel SleepStyle for ease of use and reliability, with the ResMed AirMini being a top choice for travel. Key factors in choosing include advanced AutoSet/Auto-Adjusting pressure, integrated humidification, quiet operation, and user-friendly interfaces, with trusted Australian suppliers like CPAP Direct and MyCPAP offering these models.
Drinks to help you sleep
Until recently positional therapy consisted of the so-called tennis ball technique (TBT). It consists of a bulky mass (tennis ball, bulge of hard foam, or inflated airbags) attached between the shoulder blades to prevent the patient from adopting a supine position during sleep.
Arnold Klein said that Jackson used an anesthesiologist to administer propofol to help him sleep while he was on tour in Germany. The anesthesiologist would "take him down" at night and "bring him back up" in the morning during the HIStory World Tour of 1996 and 1997.
Conclusion Regular didgeridoo playing is an effective treatment alternative well accepted by patients with moderate obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome.
The 4-hour rule defines how often you need to use your CPAP machine in order to be considered compliant. Put simply, during the first 90 days after you get your CPAP machine, your goal should be to use it for at least 4 hours a night at least 70% of the time within a 30-day period.
How sleep apnea affects your health
A sleep apnea implant is a surgically implanted device that keeps your airway open as you sleep. It helps manage obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) symptoms. Many people choose this procedure if using a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine isn't a successful treatment option.
While Wegovy and Ozempic aren't FDA-approved treatments for sleep apnea, sometimes doctor prescribe these drugs as "off-label" treatments, since people taking them often see their sleep apnea symptoms improve with weight loss.
10 hours before bed: No more caffeine. 3 hours before bed: No more food or alcohol. 2 hours before bed: No more work. 1 hour before bed: No more screen time (shut off all phones, TVs and computers).
Can't Get Used To A CPAP? Here Are 6 Alternative Options For Sleep Apnea