Oropharyngeal Exercises for Apnea Symptom Reduction

Captain_Midnight · Post by **Captain_Midnight** » Mon Nov 09, 2020 5:40 pm

Hi Folks!

Occasional visitor Captain Midnight here to share an approach that appears to work for me to lower my OSA symptoms.

For some brief background, as with many of us hereabouts, I sometimes get a blog post from cpap.com and the the title of the one I received in September got my attention...5 Surprising Oral Exercises to Reduce Sleep Apnea Symptoms written by Daniela Brannon

https://www.cpap.com/blog/exercises-all ... eep-apnea/

I've tried these types of exercises before and never noticed any significant differences, but what the hey, why not give it a go? Of the five oral exercises, I decided that numbers 1, 3, and 5 looked most promising for my OSA situation, and I've been doing these exercises 3 to 4 times per week since late September The beauty of getting daily statistical summaries from Oscar is that there is no bias in results interpretation. Oscar doesn't lie (fibs occasionally, but not looking for a result.)

And the results over whether a month and a half of oral exercises can affect positive effects on OSA symptoms?

My AHI is less than half of my previous, years' long average. It's now a consistent 0.2, down from an already low 0.4. But there's more. The events that I do get are much less likely to be the occlusive types, OA or Hypopneas. Moreover, a week ago I reduced the initial pressure on my apap by one half inch, with no effect on my results.

Six weeks into using exercises 1,3, and 5 appears to lower my AHI, and to reduce the proportion of occlusive events. I'm optimistic that the program will produce durable positive results, but if it changes, I'll find this thread and report it.

It was worth a try for me, and next week, I might reduce my initial pressure by another half and inch of pressure. Hopefully it will work for you as well.

BTW, I did do a cursory search term search and found no similar threads about this particular article.

Regards all -- Captain Midnight

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Julie · Post by **Julie** » Mon Nov 09, 2020 6:04 pm

Thank you - great ideas, now all I have to do is DO the exercises! I tried them and can understand the point to each one - can't hurt to try!

sleepy4466 · Post by **sleepy4466** » Tue Dec 01, 2020 6:00 pm

oh interesting! Can you tell us a bit more about your situation? I have nose obstruction and ive been seeing a few doctors, including one that helps me with myofunctional therapy. Were you normally able to breath through your nose with no problems? How long before you noticed it affecting your sleep?

sleepy4466 · Post by **sleepy4466** » Wed Dec 02, 2020 12:07 pm

Captain_Midnight wrote: ↑
Mon Nov 09, 2020 5:40 pm
Hi Folks!

Occasional visitor Captain Midnight here to share an approach that appears to work for me to lower my OSA symptoms.

For some brief background, as with many of us hereabouts, I sometimes get a blog post from cpap.com and the the title of the one I received in September got my attention...5 Surprising Oral Exercises to Reduce Sleep Apnea Symptoms written by Daniela Brannon

https://www.cpap.com/blog/exercises-all ... eep-apnea/

I've tried these types of exercises before and never noticed any significant differences, but what the hey, why not give it a go? Of the five oral exercises, I decided that numbers 1, 3, and 5 looked most promising for my OSA situation, and I've been doing these exercises 3 to 4 times per week since late September The beauty of getting daily statistical summaries from Oscar is that there is no bias in results interpretation. Oscar doesn't lie (fibs occasionally, but not looking for a result.)

And the results over whether a month and a half of oral exercises can affect positive effects on OSA symptoms?

My AHI is less than half of my previous, years' long average. It's now a consistent 0.2, down from an already low 0.4. But there's more. The events that I do get are much less likely to be the occlusive types, OA or Hypopneas. Moreover, a week ago I reduced the initial pressure on my apap by one half inch, with no effect on my results.

Six weeks into using exercises 1,3, and 5 appears to lower my AHI, and to reduce the proportion of occlusive events. I'm optimistic that the program will produce durable positive results, but if it changes, I'll find this thread and report it.

It was worth a try for me, and next week, I might reduce my initial pressure by another half and inch of pressure. Hopefully it will work for you as well.

BTW, I did do a cursory search term search and found no similar threads about this particular article.

Regards all -- Captain Midnight

.

oh interesting! Can you tell us a bit more about your situation? I have nose obstruction and ive been seeing a few doctors, including one that helps me with myofunctional therapy. Were you normally able to breath through your nose with no problems? How long before you noticed it affecting your sleep?

Captain_Midnight · Post by **Captain_Midnight** » Sat Jan 09, 2021 10:18 pm

I noticed positive effects after a week or two. My AHI went down, and rapidly so. It's now averaging about half of what it was for several years. And, I reduced the lower pressure threshold for my APAP by a half an inch of H2O.

As a confounder, I've since begun taking melatonin each evening. Not intentionally as a sleep therapy adjunct, but as part of my Covid19 deflector shield. I've noticed that I sleep for longer durations and with fewer wakeups, however, and I have every intention to maintain the melatonin (along with the oropharangeal exercises).
As a result, It's difficult to tease out which therapeutic step (the exercises or the nightly melatonin) is the driver for my continued xpap success, probably a combination.

Wishing all here in this fine forum a happy and healthy New Year!

- - Captain Midnight (occasional visitor)

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zonker · Post by **zonker** » Sat Jan 09, 2021 11:01 pm

Captain_Midnight wrote: ↑
Sat Jan 09, 2021 10:18 pm
And, I reduced the lower pressure threshold for my APAP by a half an inch of H2O.

when you come back, could you state the above in different words, because i can't understand what that means.

thank you.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Sun Jan 10, 2021 11:52 am

Clear over here, he set his pressure bottom (low) pressure .5 cm lower. And left the higher pressure alone.

ChicagoGranny · Post by **ChicagoGranny** » Sun Jan 10, 2021 6:06 pm

zonker wrote: ↑
Sat Jan 09, 2021 11:01 pm

Captain_Midnight wrote: ↑
Sat Jan 09, 2021 10:18 pm
And, I reduced the lower pressure threshold for my APAP by a half an inch of H2O.

when you come back, could you state the above in different words, because i can't understand what that means.

thank you.

He reduced the minimum pressure by 1.27 cm dihydrogen monoxide.

zonker · Post by **zonker** » Sun Jan 10, 2021 9:25 pm

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑
Sun Jan 10, 2021 6:06 pm

zonker wrote: ↑
Sat Jan 09, 2021 11:01 pm

Captain_Midnight wrote: ↑
Sat Jan 09, 2021 10:18 pm
And, I reduced the lower pressure threshold for my APAP by a half an inch of H2O.

when you come back, could you state the above in different words, because i can't understand what that means.

thank you.
He reduced the minimum pressure by 1.27 cm dihydrogen monoxide.

when you come back, could you state the above in different words, because i can't understand what that means.

thank you.

chunkyfrog · Post by **chunkyfrog** » Sun Jan 10, 2021 9:35 pm

Inches vs centimeters--yeah, that happens.
Since the manufacturers use centimeters, I doubt he bothered to do the math to actually convert to inches.
That would be odd, and not logical--accidental word substitution is more likely.
But why pick on the OP?
That is just mean.

ChicagoGranny · Post by **ChicagoGranny** » Mon Jan 11, 2021 1:05 pm

zonker wrote: ↑
Sun Jan 10, 2021 9:25 pm
when you come back, could you state the above in different words, because i can't understand what that means.

thank you.

Hien huet de Mindestdrock duerch 1,27 cm Dihydrogenmonoxid reduzéiert.

zonker · Post by **zonker** » Mon Jan 11, 2021 2:20 pm

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑
Mon Jan 11, 2021 1:05 pm

zonker wrote: ↑
Sun Jan 10, 2021 9:25 pm
when you come back, could you state the above in different words, because i can't understand what that means.

thank you.
Hien huet de Mindestdrock duerch 1,27 cm Dihydrogenmonoxid reduzéiert.

Gott schütze dich.

i think.

elsueno · Post by **elsueno** » Wed Jan 13, 2021 2:39 am

chunkyfrog · Post by **chunkyfrog** » Wed Jan 13, 2021 10:20 am

I now am certain I have a drinking problem.
My addiction demands that I consume several glasses of dihydrogen monoxide every day.
And yet I am unable to find a self-help group to assist me.

zonker · Post by **zonker** » Wed Jan 13, 2021 11:47 am

chunkyfrog wrote: ↑
Wed Jan 13, 2021 10:20 am
I now am certain I have a drinking problem.
My addiction demands that I consume several glasses of dihydrogen monoxide every day.
And yet I am unable to find a self-help group to assist me.

do remember that TOO much can kill you!!

Oropharyngeal Exercises for Apnea Symptom Reduction

Oropharyngeal Exercises for Apnea Symptom Reduction

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Re: Oropharyngeal Exercises for Apnea Symptom Reduction

Re: Oropharyngeal Exercises for Apnea Symptom Reduction

Re: Oropharyngeal Exercises for Apnea Symptom Reduction

Re: Oropharyngeal Exercises for Apnea Symptom Reduction

Re: Oropharyngeal Exercises for Apnea Symptom Reduction

Re: Oropharyngeal Exercises for Apnea Symptom Reduction

Re: Oropharyngeal Exercises for Apnea Symptom Reduction

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