CPAP Blog

A unique new CPAP mask called the CPAP Pro is now available in the UK and Europe. The mask has no headgear, instead using a mouthpiece to keep it in place.

Although it may sound odd, it is based on some sound logic and has proven to be very popular. It is kept in place by a mouthpiece that attaches to the upper jaw.

The mask then uses nasal pillows, meaning there is no skin contact with the mask other than the perimeter of the nostrils. This is great for anyone suffering from red marks or skin irritation from their current mask.

Because the upper jaw is fixed to the nose, the position between the two never changes. So once the mask is in place, it cannot then be dislodged or change position – as a mask attached with headgear can.

As well as ensuring the mask does not move, it has the added benefit of greater comfort as you no longer need to worry about headgear, which for many is the biggest drawback of wearing a CPAP mask.

The high level of adjustability also means it will fit almost anyone. The nasal pillows do not even need to be aligned symmetrically and can be positioned at almost any length or angle required.

The CPAP Pro has been hugely popular in the USA and we are looking forward to it helping similarly large numbers of CPAP users in the UK.

The CPAP Pro will begin shipping in the UK and Europe in early September and you can pre-order yours now by clicking here.

If you would like some more information about the mask, you can read the CPAP Pro’s product page on EU-PAP.co.uk, the CPAP Pro FAQ or some of the CPAP Pro Testimonials USA users have left.

It is currently being discussed in our CPAP Forums too - why not check out the ‘CPAP Pro “no mask” ?‘ to see what others are saying and share your views too?

As is well documented, the primary treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea is CPAP - Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. The CPAP machine blows air into your throat through a mask, creating enough pressure to prevent your throat from closing and causing an apnoea.

It is with good reason that CPAP is the first choice treatment - it is 100% effective in treating OSA, a claim that few treatments can make for any health condition. However it is not without its drawbacks, and some simply do not get on with CPAP.

So is there an alternative? Well, for those with mild OSA yes, there is. A Mandibular Advancement Device is a clinically proven method of treating snoring and mild OSA, and has also had success in treating moderate OSA, too.

It uses an oral appliance that brings your lower jaw forward. It doing so, it opens up the airways in the throat, increasing airflow and decreasing the pressure that leads to snoring and apnoeas. Try it for yourself now if you like; move your lower jaw forward and you will notice that breathing becomes easier.

Mandibular Advancement Devices are generally considered to be far more tolerable than CPAP; after all they use a simple mouth splint rather than a mask, and are therefore becomming a popular choice. However it they are not for everyone, and the levels of success do vary from user to user.

If you are considering trying a Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD), then it may be worth using a trial device, such as a Somnolis which is available through Amazon.co.uk. This trial devices last for a few nights but will give you a good indication as to how effective Mandibular Advancement is for you.

Once you have tried that, you can look into a proper MAD. There are two main options. The first is a boil-and-bite MAD, such as the SomnoFit. These provide a customised mouth piece by biting into the mould, which then adapts to the shape of your teeth. The SomnoFit Mandibular Advancement Device retails for £89.95 and is available through Amazon.co.uk or EU-PAP.co.uk.

For those on a higher budget, you may wish to try a SomnoDent Mandibular Advancement Device, which uses a mouth piece made specially for you through a dentist’s indentation. Prices on these vary from dentist to dentist, but are usually in the region of around £1,000.

Mandibular Advancement, like CPAP, may not be for everyone. However if you are truly struggling with CPAP and your OSA is classed as mild, then a MAD will provide a true, clinically proven alternative to CPAP. Try a Somnolis, see how you get on, and go from there. You never know - you may be able to ditch the mask completely.

Labour Party leader Ed Miliband’s operation a few weeks ago to cure his Obstructive Sleep Apnoea has raised the awareness of OSA. Intus Healthcare saw a big rise in people enquiring about sleep studies and well as the number of visitors to their OSA-based websites. “Having such a leading figure put Sleep Apnoea on the front pages has raised the awareness of the condition dramatically, if what we have seen is anything to go by” said Intus Healthcare’s Tim Barker.

“As it is estimated around 75% of those with the condition are undiagnosed, it is excellent to see it being brought to the attention of the public and getting more people to get themselves tested for OSA themselves”. However it would appear that Mr Miliband’s operation was not a success which unfortunately comes as little surprise; as many as two thirds of operations to treat OSA are unsuccessful.

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea was also in the newspapers this week thanks to Dr Keith’s advice in The Sun on August 18. Dr Keith’s “excellent” advice to those with OSA was to lose weight, and then listed surgery as the first choice treatment – despite the success rate being as low as around 1 in 3 and CPAP being effective in all cases. It is not the first time Dr Keith has shared his views on OSA – back in 2008 he claimed that the way to treat OSA was simply “losing weight and ditching alcoholic nightcaps”.

A recent study also showed that OSA in older women significantly increases the chances of them developing cognitive impairment or dementia than those who sleep normally. OSA has long been linked with an increased risk of heart failure or stroke, and this study now further highlights the risk of leaving OSA untreated. The study was conducted by a team from the University of California led by Dr Kristine Yaffe, and comprised of 300 women with an average age of 82 who did not have dementia. The four year study showed that those diagnosed with OSA were 50% more likely to develop these further health conditions.

Another study at the University of Brescia this month suggested that wearing compression stockings can lower snoring and OSA by a third. There have been studies into the relationship between rostral fluid shift and sleep previously, so the result may not be as surprising as it first appears. However the study was comprised of just twelve patients, all of whom were attending a CVI Clinic rather than a Sleep Clinic which arguable skews the results further. Nonetheless, the findings are interesting and research of a larger, more “natural” sample would make for fascinating reading. A few members of the UK CPAP Forums are currently trialling this method and it will be intriguing to see how they get on.