Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most frequent kind of sleep apnea in the United States. OSA is characterized by sleep apnea, in which a person’s breathing is interrupted while they are asleep. Sleep deprivation has been linked to a variety of negative health effects, including excessive daytime sleepiness, headaches, exhaustion, and the inability to concentrate.
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The use of a device to keep the airway open while sleeping is often recommended by a doctor to someone who has been diagnosed with OSA. An oral appliance, an expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) device, a bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP), a CPAP machine, or a BiPAP machine are all viable alternatives to the more widely prescribed CPAP equipment. For persons with central or mixed sleep apnea, some of these devices may be employed.
You are reading: How Does EPAP Therapy Work? What Are Differences Between EPAP and CPAP Therapies?
For those who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), we examine EPAP therapy and how it varies from CPAP therapy.
How Does EPAP Therapy Work
Patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea who also breathe through their nose can benefit from EPAP therapy. A seal is formed around the nostrils by means of custom-made nose cones.
Valves in the nose cones allow you to breathe normally even when the nostrils are closed. Because the valves seal and decrease the amount of space through which exiting air can escape, this creates the necessary pressure to open your airway.
EPAP Therapy: Top Two Products
EPAP products now on the market include Bongo RX and Provent.
The Bongo RX and Provent will now be discussed in further depth, now that we’ve covered the essentials.
Bongo RX Review
In comparison to the Provent, the Bongo RX uses silicone nose cones instead of adhesive pads to seal around the nostrils. Bongo RX nose cones have a longer lifespan and produce less waste than Provent because of their innovative design. Each Bongo RX is good for 90 days, whereas Provent to be thrown out after each use.
There are several advantages to the Bongo RX, despite the fact that they operate in a similar way. In addition to the nose cone’s durability and flexibility, you’ll like the Bongo RX’s seal around the nostrils. In addition, the Bongo RX is lightweight and portable (in many cases fitting into a jacket pocket).
You’ll need an EPAP prescription from your doctor before you can use Bongo RX. Purchase the Bongo RX Starter Pack after receiving your prescription. It comes with a travel case, a set of nose cones in various sizes, and a headpiece. A 90-day trial period will allow you to determine which nose cone size is best for you after your first purchase.
Bongo RX Annual Pack is the best way to get a year’s supply of nose cones in your preferred size. Four nose cones are included in each year’s supply (each lasting 90 days).
Provent Review
Although the Bongo RX was developed a few years before Provent, it has quickly established itself as one of the industry’s premier EPAP therapy options. The starting kit’s low price appeals to many first-timers because it makes it more economical to test out this treatment and see if you tolerate it. The nostril foundation is sealed with hypoallergenic glue in Provent. You can open your airway by exhaling, which causes the valves in the adhesive ovals to partially close, producing the necessary pressure.
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Provent is an all-in-one solution. It doesn’t matter how big or small your nostrils are, because each adhesive oval has a wide enough base to seal around them.
EPAP treatment, like the Bongo RX, requires a prescription before it can be purchased. You can get the Provent 30-Day Starter Pack with your prescription once you have it. What’s in the Starter Pack?
- Phase 1 Provent Single-Use Pairs, Two Pairs
- Phase 2 Provent Single-Use Pairs, Two Pairs
- At least twenty-six pairs of Phase 3 Provent Single Use Pairs
If you run out of your initial supply, you’ll need to repurchase it. When purchasing in bulk, you will save money over the cost of purchasing in 30-day intervals. Provent comes in 30-, 90-, and 180-day supply options.
What Is an Expiratory Positive Airway Pressure (EPAP) Device?
For those who are unable or unwilling to use CPAP therapy, an EPAP device is an emerging treatment option for sleep apnea. During the course of the night, an EPAP is inserted into one’s nostrils. The pressure created by the exhalation of the sleeper is the only source of power for this valve. Inhalation is more likely to occur when the airway is open because of these physical changes, which reduces the lapses in breathing that define sleep apnea. EPAPs, in contrast to CPAPs, don’t increase pressure upon inhalation like CPAPs do.
Sleep apnea has been successfully treated with EPAP devices in numerous studies. Using an EPAP machine greatly reduced the number of times persons with OSA stopped breathing while they were sleeping, as well as the amount of time they felt tired during the day. The effectiveness and safety of EPAP and CPAP in treating OSA were found to be equal in a research comparing the two treatments.
People with OSA who were studied over the course of a year showed great adherence to EPAP, as long as the treatment was functioning at the three-month mark. Reduced snoring, decreased daytime tiredness, and fewer breathing cessations were observed in those who used EPAP.
What Is a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Machine?
Inhaling and exhaling are made more difficult by a CPAP machine. This pressure prevents the airway from collapsing as frequently in persons with sleep apnea. A sleeper using a CPAP machine needs use a mask and a tubing to connect to the machine. Mouth and nose masks are available, as are masks that merely cover the nose or are nose plugs that slip into the nose. Although CPAP machines are widely accepted as safe and effective, some people have difficulty using them.
Why Can’t Some People Use CPAP Machines?
Most people can safely use a CPAP machine to treat sleep apnea, but this therapy is not well tolerated in certain circumstances. People with the following conditions should not use CPAP therapy:
- unable to breathe on one’s own
- Consciousness is lessened
- Cardiorespiratory instability
- Trauma or burns to the face
- Facial, esophageal, or gastroesophageal surgery
- Syndrome of air leakage
- Large amounts of secretions from the lungs
- Vomiting and severe diarrhoea are both symptoms
- Shocking air-blocking illnesses
- Insane fear of using the CPAP device.
It’s not uncommon for people to stop using CPAP machines after a few months, despite the fact that they’re regarded the gold standard for treating OSA. People with OSA use their CPAP devices an average of 4.6 hours every seven-hour sleep cycle, according to an analysis of studies completed over the past 20 years. CPAP therapy should be used for at least five to six hours each night to be effective. At 10 months, just around one-third of those who started CPAP therapy were still using their machine at the recommended level of use.
There are a multitude of reasons why someone might decide to quit using their CPAP machine. Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition that some people don’t consider to be life threatening. CPAP masks can be cumbersome, uncomfortable or claustrophobic for some people. A runny nose or nosebleeds, a dry mouth, or skin irritation from the mask are all possible adverse effects. Some people find the CPAP machine’s loudness to be disruptive to their sleep.
Patients who are supported and educated about OSA and CPAP use are more likely to adhere to treatment. However, for those who are unable or unable to utilize a CPAP machine, there are a variety of additional OSA therapy choices.
What Are Differences Between EPAP and CPAP Therapies?
Both EPAP and CPAP therapies differ mostly in how they look and perform. With the help of a motor-driven CPAP machine, filtered air is pushed through a tube and into the sleeper’s airway. A sleeper using a CPAP machine is required to wear a nose or mouth mask. Every portion of the system must be cleaned and replaced every few months. A battery-powered CPAP machine is possible, however the majority of them are powered by electricity.
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In compared to CPAP machines, EPAP machines are much less bulky, lighter, and don’t require any electricity or batteries to operate. The valve of an EPAP device, on the other hand, is activated by the exhalation of the user. Inhalation is easier when the airway is kept open by the pressure exerted by the individual. Unlike a CPAP machine, which uses external air to pressurize the airway, an EPAP device relies on the sleeper’s own breath for its operation.
Is EPAP As Effective As CPAP?
In order to find out if EPAP devices are as effective as CPAP machines in treating obstructive sleep apnea, more research is required. However, a number of studies show that the two treatments for OSA are comparable. It has been found that the use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) equipment is more effective.
It doesn’t matter how effective a CPAP machine is if it is not being used. Using the EPAP machine 92 percent of the time appears to be the norm, according to preliminary study. If CPAP therapy isn’t being followed, utilizing an EPAP device is preferable to no treatment at all.
Who Is EPAP Better For?
The use of an EPAP device may be preferable to the use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine for those who are not able to consistently tolerate CPAP.
EPAP devices may be of interest to people who desire to stop using CPAP machines because of its side effects. People who frequently travel may find it more convenient to use an EPAP machine. EPAP machines are far more portable than CPAP machines due to their smaller size and reduced weight. EPAP devices don’t need energy, thus they can be used while camping or sleeping without an outlet. Cleaning and maintaining a CPAP machine is an ongoing process.
Who Is CPAP Better For?
CPAP therapy for OSA has been shown to be effective in numerous studies. CPAP therapy is the most commonly prescribed treatment for OSA by doctors.
People with OSA who can tolerate the CPAP machine should use it. People who tolerate their CPAP machine well can sleep through the night without having to deal with any of the machine’s negative affects. The use of full-face CPAP masks may be more helpful for patients who frequently inhale via their mouth than nasal EPAP devices.
Portable, battery-operated CPAP machines are easier to travel with than traditional CPAP machines, even though they are not as tiny as EPAP devices.
How Do I Decide Which PAP Therapy Is Right for Me?
Talk to your doctor or sleep specialist about what treatment options are available to you in order to get the greatest results. CPAP machines are usually recommended as a first step for persons with OSA.
CPAP devices are more expensive up front, but most insurance policies pay at least some of the cost. EPAP device coverage may be more limited, and EPAP disposables may be more expensive in the long run. EPAP devices
Ask your doctor about EPAP therapy as an alternative if you’ve tried a CPAP machine and aren’t happy with the results you’re getting. Developing a treatment plan with your doctor can help you get the sleep that you need each night.
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Source: https://bestpillowsleepers.com
Category: Sleep Advisors
