CPAP recall: Can I treat my sleep apnea without a CPAP machine?

The CPAP recall is frightening, and its effects are still being felt nearly two years later. If you have sleep apnea and use a CPAP, it's time to rethink how you are treating your sleep apnea. There are other ways to get a great night’s sleep than with a dangerous, uncomfortable, and loud CPAP machine. Keep reading to learn more about the CPAP recall and how to get sleep apnea treatment without the need for a CPAP machine.

What is the CPAP recall?

According to an article by CBS News, Philips recalled more than five million continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines in June 2021 because foam inside the units meant to reduce noise was breaking off and blowing into users’ mouths. Inhaling the foam can cause “serious injury which can be life-threatening,” Philips wrote in its company recall at the time.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the company tried to fix some of the machines, but the repaired ones have also been recalled. The error can cause the devices to deliver the wrong prescription to sleep apnea patients or fail to offer therapeutic benefits, the FDA said. That could lead to respiratory failure or heart failure, officials said.

Suffering from sleep apnea already puts you at risk for a host of dangers. Don’t let your CPAP machine be one of them.

Understanding the cause of sleep apnea

A CPAP machine provides pressure to open your airways so that you can breathe better and have a more restful night’s sleep. However, they are clearly dangerous, as well as loud, cumbersome, and uncomfortable. They are a band-aid for sleep apnea—they help open the airways, but they do nothing to treat and improve the sleep apnea.

The best way to treat sleep apnea is at its source. There are many reasons someone may have sleep apnea, including:

Obesity
Large tonsils
Dental issues
The use of alcohol and certain medications
Hormone levels
Family history
Age and gender
Smoking
Much more

Depending on what is causing your sleep apnea, you can get specialized treatment to open your airways for a good night’s sleep and correct it at its source.

Sleep apnea treatment with raio dental

Just because you have sleep apnea does not mean that you need to be tied to a dangerous CPAP Machine for the rest of your life. You can get restful sleep without the use of loud, uncomfortable, and dangerous machinery.

Dr. Raio is an Airway Health Specialist and Restorative Dentist located in Medford, New York. He has over 25 years of clinical experience and is a strong advocate of ongoing education and remains at the forefront of the most advanced treatments available for the treatment of his patients. The clinic offers a wide range of services such as general services, specialty services, and sleep dentistry.