Sleep Apnea Doesn’t Take The Night Off When You’re Sick

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Sleep Apnea Doesn’t Take The Night Off When You’re Sick

Aug 20, 2019

A backup to your CPAP is critical to keep

millions of families safe this winter, here’s why…

Millions of homes across the United States, including thousands of homes in Utah, have one or more family members using a CPAP machine to treat their obstructive sleep apnea.

Continuous positive airway pressure – or CPAP – machines are the most common treatment for sleep apnea patients. The device, which provides airflow at a constant pressure, holds the airway open while the person sleeps. It can be life-saving and it can significantly increase a patient’s quality of life. Consistent use of a CPAP can also add years to their life – and life to their years.

The biggest danger with CPAP machines is actually NOT using them, but there is growing concern that the use of CPAP machines could become dangerous for families of users when they battle a contagious illness.

“It seems counterintuitive – how can a device that SAVES lives by helping patients breathe while they sleep become dangerous to others?” says Dr. Jamison Spencer, DMD, MS, founder of The Center for Sleep Apnea & TMJ in Salt Lake County and Spencer Study Club, a group of more than 600 dentists around the world who specialize in dental sleep medicine, “but most CPAP machines include an exhalation vent, which may allow exhaled breath from the patient to be spread into the air of the room, and onto surfaces of nearby objects, such as a nightstand or items on the nightstand.”

Enter the coronavirus pandemic…

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM): “There is some concern that using CPAP could spread the virus through the exhalation port, which allows carbon dioxide to escape from your mask. This port also may release smaller virus-containing particles as an ‘aerosol,’ which can remain suspended in the air for a few hours. It’s possible that your bed partner could inhale these virus particles.”

The American Society of Anesthesiologists issued guidance on February 23rd of this year discouraging CPAP use in COVID-19 patients.

“However, again, CPAP machines are life-saving, and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is critical, especially with a number of studies now pointing to the likelihood of OSA contributing to poor outcomes for those infected with coronavirus,” says Dr. Spencer.

There is a solution that doesn’t make patients choose between potentially life-saving therapy and keeping their families safe. If there is ANY sign of illness – coronavirus or otherwise, patients should talk to their physician about the possibility of switching to an oral appliance* as a backup.

“Luckily, now there’s a simple-to-use therapy for sleep apnea patients to have as a backup, called oral appliance therapy,’ says Dr. Spencer. “Many of our patients are referred to us by their sleep physician or family doctor for an oral appliance as an alternative to CPAP. Since it’s small and portable, we also have many people who have an oral appliance they use just when they can’t use their CPAP, such as when they travel or go camping – of course, when it’s safe to do that again.”

Sleep apnea never takes a night off, and the treatment of it shouldn’t either.

Newer Post >

UNTREATED SLEEP APNEA MAY CONTRIBUTE TO DEMENTIA

By Josh Spencer • 02 Jun, 2021

NEW STUDY SHOWS LESS THAN 6 HOURS OF QUALITY SLEEP LEADS TO THE CONDITION A new study, published this week in the New York Times as breaking news, indicates that people “who don’t get enough sleep in their 50s and 60s may be more likely to develop dementia when they are older.” The study found those who “consistently reported sleeping six hours or less… were about 30% more likely… to be diagnosed with dementia.” One major reason people do not get enough sleep is undiagnosed and/or untreated sleep apnea. “Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, is a very common sleep disorder – and it impacts far more people than we once thought,” says Dr. Kevin Mangelson, DMD, who runs The Center for Sleep Apnea & TMJ in Salt Lake County. “Patients with obstructive sleep apnea briefly stop breathing – or have reduced airflow – often multiple times each night while they are asleep.” One in 15 adults in the United States suffers from OSA — which translates to about 20 million people. Further, an estimated 80% of those sufferers are undiagnosed, which leaves their OSA untreated. Not only is their sleep time lacking – so, too, is the quality of sleep necessary to protect brain function. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines are the most common treatment for sleep apnea patients. The device, which holds the airway open while the person sleeps, can be life-saving while also significantly improving a patient’s quality of life. More immediately, for OSA patients (both diagnosed and undiagnosed) not using CPAP treatment for even a single night can be extremely dangerous. “One of the main problems we see is patients not using their CPAP,” says Dr. Mangelson. “And, as this study shows, how much you sleep is critical — but BREATHING is even more critical. Your brain would much rather disrupt your sleep than let you suffocate.” “For those who can’t tolerate CPAP, or need an option for travel, there’s something called an oral appliance* – which is a terrific treatment option” continues Dr. Mangelson. “It’s small and portable, so we have many people use them just when they can’t use their CPAP, like when they travel or go camping.” The critical takeaway from this new study is to ensure sleep apnea sufferers are being diagnosed and given options for treatment. Otherwise, issues like dementia, memory challenges, depression, diabetes, and increased risks of heart attack or stroke will continue to present themselves in these patients.