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Aerophagia associated with CPAP therapy is a condition that usually arises when patients are new to the therapy, or when there has been a recent increase in the prescribed CPAP pressure. The condition usually subsides on its own as patients adapt to the CPAP therapy. In cases where it doesn't the prescribing physician may lower the patient's pressure or have the patient switch to a bilevel (BiPAP) machine.
Some CPAP patients report that they can get relief in one of two ways. One way is to keep the head aligned with the neck while sleeping so that there is a straight pathway for the air to enter the lungs. In this way the air passes straight into the lungs instead of being diverted to the stomach. Some ways to accomplish this are to lay on your back with your head on a thin pillow or no pillow at all so that your neck stays stays straight instead of being kinked. Another strategy is to sleep on a wedge.
Paradoxically, the other way some patients have reported getting relief is to do just the opposite! That is, keep the chin tucked up against the chest thus kinking the neck. In this way the air doesn't reach the stomach because the passageway is kinked by the bent neck. This can be accomplished by sleeping on your back with a thick pillow or a pair of pillows, or sleeping on your side with your chin tucked against your chest.
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