Discussion on alternate treatments for sleep apnea

[Breathworker]

Patrick McKeown on the apnea hypopnea index.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hON-YBpqUw

[Breathworker]

 Natural Treatments for Sleep Apnea. CPAP Machines Are Just Band Aids

[cdplatt]

I have tried oral appliances a couple of times and found them very uncomfortable.  I prefer the CPAP approach, and after trying many masks and settings, I've settled on a system that I find comfortable and easy to sleep with.

[Breathworker]

That's great. I hope everyone finds something they are comfortable with. And I understand finding the oral appliance uncomfortable. I am still trying to resolve this for myself. I am certainly not there yet. I may try CPAP, I don't know. I look at alternative methods and try to find something that works, do a lot of breathing exercises, read and research. I know people who use a CPAP machine including a very close friend and my primary care doctor.

All I am trying to do is spread some information people might find useful and hopefully learn a few things myself and broaden my knowledge.

[Phaleronic]

Seems like snake oil...

[Narcil]

definitely is snake oil

[Narcil]

another not doctor selling snake oil to vulnerable people.

It’s an example of why science communication should be done by people who understand how science works

How on earth it is a NY Times bestseller and a GoodReads nominee for Science and Technology book of the year, is beyond my understanding, since it was written by a journalist (not a scientist) with very little understanding of how to conduct a proper scientific research.

an actual review of his book, another bright author.

[Unkikonki]

another not doctor selling snake oil to vulnerable people.


an actual review of his book, another bright author.

He's not selling anything, and the evidence on the matter is quite strong.

It makes a lot of sense that CPAP shouldn't be the end-line but should be taken as a way to buy time while you work on treating the root cause.

Actual experts like Vik Veer also recommend oropharyngeal exercises as a way to reduce sleep apnea symptoms.

[Rickyricardo]

These sorts of things are always on YouTube and never in peer reviewed studies, and never by physicians.

[Arik]

Not exactly...
https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/10.1164/...0806-981OC
Abstract:
Upper airway muscle function plays a major role in maintenance of the upper airway patency and contributes to the genesis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Preliminary results suggested that oropharyngeal exercises derived from speech therapy may be an effective treatment option for patients with moderate OSAS.

I'm ready to try everything in order to get rid of the CPAP