Is It Safe To Replace Philips Cpap Sound Abatement Foam
That is the big question, and consumers are rightfully skeptical about the ability of the manufacturer to safely replace Philips CPAP sound abatement foam in a way that will not compromise the device or lead to additional future health risks after their repaired DreamStation 1 device is returned to them.
While the FDA initially reviewed and concurred with the Philips Respironics plan to replace PE-PUR sound abatement foam, little information has been publicly disclosed about this process and the safety has not been independently verified by plaintiffs lawyers or a court. The FDA decision to authorize the repairs was based only on a review of information provided by Philips Respironics.
In November 2021, the FDA issued an update on the Philips CPAP foam replacement, indicating that there may be concerns about the safety of the new silicone foam that is being used. A similar device marketed outside the United States with a silicone-based sound abatement foam failed safety tests for the release of certain chemical compounds that may pose serious health risks. Therefore, the FDA indicates that it has insufficient information to conclude whether the Philips DreamStation replacement silicone foam poses a risk to patients.
Why Might It Have To Be Removed
Uvula removal is done with a procedure called an uvulectomy. This removes all or part of the uvula. Its usually done to treat snoring or some of the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea .
When you sleep, your uvula vibrates. If you have an especially large or long uvula, it can vibrate enough to make you snore. In other cases, it can flap over your airway and block the airflow into your lungs, causing OSA. Removing the uvula can help prevent snoring. It may help symptoms of OSA.
Your doctor might recommend an uvulectomy if you have a large uvula that interferes with your sleep or breathing.
More often, the uvula is partially removed as part of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty . This is the main surgery used to shrink the palate and clear the blockage in OSA. UPPP removes excess tissue from the soft palate and pharynx. Your doctor may also remove the tonsils, adenoids, and all or part of the uvula during this procedure.
In some African and Middle Eastern countries, uvulectomy is performed much more often as a ritual in babies. Its done to try to prevent or treat conditions ranging from throat infections to coughs. However, theres no evidence it works for these purposes. It can also cause
What Causes Central Sleep Apnea In Children
Central sleep apnea can occur for a variety of reasons in children. It is important to note that a few central apnea events during sleep is considered normal. Central sleep apnea has been associated with rare genetic disorders in children, such as congenital central hypoventilation syndrome. It may also be present when children have health conditions that interfere with parts of the central nervous system that controls breathing.
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Oral Or Dental Appliances
Another home remedy for sleep apnea is wearing an oral device that holds the tongue or jaw in a certain position to help facilitate better breathing.
However, in most cases, an oral device will require a prescription, and a dental professional who has training in sleep medicine will need to fit it.
Doctors have identified several factors that contribute to obstructive sleep apnea. These include:
- being aged 40 years and older
- being overweight
- having a family history of sleep apnea
- heavy alcohol consumption
- having a large tongue, tonsils, or uvula
- having a small jaw
Avoid Alcohol And Sleeping Pills
If you have trouble sleeping, try a cup of decaffeinated herbal tea or juice instead of unwinding with a glass of wine. Alcohol and certain medications can make throat muscles relax more than normal. As a result, airways can get blocked. Alcohol and medications can also make it harder for your brain to “wake up” and register a lack of oxygen in the body. This can cause longer and more serious pauses in breathing. If you find it hard to fall asleep, try reading a book or taking a warm bath.
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Limiting Alcohol And Sedatives
Alcohol and sedative medications cause slackening of the tissues near the airway, contributing to a heightened risk of airway collapse and OSA. Alcohol can cause fragmented and lower-quality sleep because of its effects on sleep cycles. For these reasons, reducing or eliminating the use of alcohol and sedatives, especially in the hours leading up to bedtime, is frequently advised for patients with OSA.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Symptoms
The main symptoms of OSA include:
- Loud snoring
- Daytime sleepiness because of sleep interruptions
- Morning headaches
- Trouble sleeping all night
You might also notice other medical conditions like high blood pressure getting worse, says Steven Holfinger, MD, a sleep medicine expert at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. For example, your blood pressure readings may increase as a result of OSA.
If you’re experiencing these symptoms, “You should talk with your primary care doctor or see a sleep specialist for further care,” Holfinger says.
In most cases, physicians will conduct a sleep study to diagnose sleep apnea. During the sleep study your breathing will be monitored and doctors will measure two main factors:
1. Apneas where you do not breath for at least 10 seconds.
2. Hypopnea where you have restricted breathing for at least 10 seconds at a time.
If you have five or more apneas or hypopneas per hour, you will likely be diagnosed with sleep apnea. If you have 30 or more you’ll be considered to have severe sleep apnea.
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When Should We See A Doctor
It is a good idea to consult a doctor anytime abnormal sleep symptoms are present. Also, children who are not sleeping well may have trouble focusing, display irritability, or have poor impulse control. If a child is struggling with behavior concerns, it could be helpful to ask the doctor whether a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea may be a contributing factor.
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How To Remove Sleep Study Goop From Hair
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Postby Komodo»Fri Mar 26, 2010 6:58 am
SleepingUgly wrote:Anyone have any good recommendations for how to remove that goop that is put in the hair during sleep studies? To my memory, it didn’t come out well even with washing several times.
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Causes Of Sleep Apnea
To treat sleep apnea, or to get rid of it for good, youll need to get down to the root cause. Some causes of sleep apnea include:
- Weight – Being overweight or obese is a common cause. The extra tissue in the upper airway and around the neck can obstruct your airway, keeping you from breathing during sleep.
- Sleep Position – Some people only have periods of apnea while sleeping on their backs .
- Anatomy – Sometimes your anatomy can be the cause of your sleep apnea. This could be from large tonsils that narrow the upper airway or a deviated septum, for example.
- Alcohol – Alcohol can relax muscles and tissues that can block the airway.
- Smoking – Smoking can cause inflammation in the airway, contributing to sleep apnea.
- Medication – Certain medications may also play a role in causing sleep apnea.
Is Philips Reimbursing The Cost Of Replacing Cpap Machines
No, not at this time. While Philips should be offering free replacements immediately or reimbursing costs associated with buying a new sleep apnea machine, the company is currently refusing to do so. As a result, many consumers are being forced to go out-of-pocket to obtain a new CPAP machine to replace recalled DreamStation devices.
Among the damages being pursued through Philips CPAP recall lawsuits will be the costs of replacing DreamStation machines with safer alternatives.
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Know Your Sleep Apnea Risk Level
Sleep apnea is a serious condition that affects more than 30 million Americans who suffer from lack of restorative sleep.
The majority are undiagnosed and unaware of their condition.
Typical symptoms include heavy snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness or fatigue, difficulty with concentration or memory, among many others.
Untreated, sleep apnea can lead to serious health consequences.
Can Philips Cpap Sleep Apnea Machines Be Repaired
According to a statement released by Philips Respironics on September 1, 2021:
Philips received authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the rework of the affected first-generation DreamStation devices, which consists of replacement of the PE-PUR sound abatement foam with a new material.
It appears that the Philips CPAP sleep apnea machine repairs will involve removing the existing foam from the interior of the device, but the manufacturer does not provide any information about how it will rework the machines or how this process will prevent the new sound abatement material from releasing black foam particles or chemicals that may enter the air pathways, tubing and face mask.
Until any Philips DreamStation recall repairs are independently evaluated and confirmed by health experts as safe and effective, our lawyers do not recommend that owners participate in this Philips CPAP Reworking program.
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Mouth And Throat Exercises
As the body relaxes during sleep, the muscles behind the tongue can become floppy. Snoring occurs when air causes this slack tissue to vibrate. The floppy tissue can also constrict the airway and play a role in obstructive sleep apnea.
Special exercises of the mouth and throat, technically known as myofunctional therapy and/or oropharyngeal exercises, can tone these muscles so that they stay more taut during sleep. Doing these exercises daily for a few months has been found to reduce the severity of OSA. Though exercises may need to be combined with other treatments for optimal results, they have virtually no costs or side effects, making them a low-risk inclusion in sleep apnea treatment plans.
Symptoms Of Sleep Apnea
Because some of the symptoms of sleep apnea occur while youre sleeping, your bed partner may notice them first. You, or that person, may notice heavy snoring or long pauses in your breathing during sleep.
Even if you dont remember waking up during the night, you may notice daytime sleepiness , irritability, or fatigue. You may also experience morning headaches, forgetfulness, mood changes, and a decreased interest in sex.
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What To Think About
If you are thinking about having surgery to treat sleep apnea, talk with your doctor about having a done first.
Experts typically suggest that you try before considering surgery.
Laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty uses a laser to perform surgery. It is sometimes used to treat mild to moderate sleep apnea, although not all people benefit. This surgery is not recommended by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine to treat sleep apnea.
What Causes Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea occurs when:
- Your throat muscles and tongue relax during sleep and partially or completely block the airways in your nose, mouth, or throat.
- Bone deformities or enlarged tissues block your airways. For example, you may have enlarged tonsils. During the day when you are awake and standing up, this may not cause problems. But when you lie down at night, the tonsils can press down on your airway, narrowing it and causing sleep apnea.
Other things that make sleep apnea more likely include:
- Taking certain medicines or drinking alcohol before bed.
- Sleeping on your back.
UPPP: Your doctor may suggest UPPP if:
- Your condition is easy to fix, such as very large tonsils.
- You choose not to useâor cannot useâCPAP to treat your sleep apnea.
- You have tried CPAP, but it hasn’t helped.
Maxillo-mandibular advancement and radiofrequency ablation: Your doctor may recommend one of these other surgical treatments if:
- You choose not to useâor cannot useâCPAP to treat your sleep apnea.
- Oral breathing devices or other types of devices that you wear while you sleep have not worked for you.
- Other forms of surgery are not right for you.
Tracheostomy: Your doctor may recommend tracheostomy if:
- You have severe sleep apnea.
- Other treatments have failed.
- Other forms of surgery are not right for you.
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Choose The Right Size
The most important initial choice in starting CPAP therapy is the selection of your CPAP mask. In general, it will be one of four styles:
- Nasal pillows
- Nasal mask
- Full-face mask
- Total-face mask
The amount of contact between your face and the mask will determine how likely it is to leave marks. The simple rule is that the smaller the surface area pressing onto your skin, the less likely you will be to have morning creases.
If you are prone to skin creases , opt for a smaller mask. If you simply want to reduce creases on the center of your face, choose a total-face mask if your healthcare provider says it’s PK.
So Why Isnt Tonsillectomy For Sleep Apnea A First
There are likely many reasons. First, not all patients have tonsils that are markedly enlarged. I would estimate that this about 5-10% of all adults with sleep apnea would be ideal candidates for tonsillectomy as a first-line treatment. This figure seems relatively small, but it still is quite a few patients who could have their tonsils removed because sleep apnea is so common. Second, most of these studies are relatively small. It would be important to repeat the studies in larger groups, just to confirm the findings. Third, the studies are not what are called randomized trials. Randomized trials could include patients with sleep apnea and markedly enlarged tonsils, either performing tonsillectomy or observing them without treatment for a period of time . Unfortunately, it turns out that making people wait for surgery just to be part of a research study is incredibly difficult. Patients will prefer not to be involved in these studies if they are interested in having surgery . Finally, there are perceptions about surgery for sleep apnea that we have to overcome. I have written before that most surgeons, other physicians, and the public think that there is only one surgery for sleep apnea. That is just not the case.
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Dont Sleep On Your Back
Sleeping on your back is a risk factor for sleep apnea. In this position, gravity draws the tongue and other tissues down and toward the airway, exacerbating the risk of disordered breathing. Adjusting to a different sleeping position may prevent this airway constriction in some patients and can work in conjunction with other types of OSA therapy.
Changing your sleeping position is easier said than done. Some natural back sleepers will struggle to fall asleep in another position, or they may revert to lying on their back while asleep. Different methods have been developed to discourage back sleeping.
One basic method involves sewing a tennis ball into the back of a shirt, which prevents lying in a supine position. While this is effective in the short-term, few people stick with this technique.
Philips Dreamstation Cpap Recall Repairs
Philips Respironics announced in September 2021 that it anticipates reworking recalled DreamStation 1 CPAP machines, and hopes to complete the DreamStation repair and replacement program in about 12 months. However, no details have been provided about how it will remove and replace CPAP foam, and the process has not been independently verified to confirm that it will be safe for individuals to use these repaired DreamStation CPAP machines for sleep apnea therapy.
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Upper Airway Surgery For Sleep Apnea
If you have exhausted other sleep apnea treatment options, surgery to increase the size of your airway may be a possibility.
The surgeon may remove tonsils, adenoids, or excess tissue at the back of the throat or inside the nose, reconstruct the jaw to enlarge the upper airway, or implant plastic rods into the soft palate. Surgery carries risks of complications and infections, and in some rare cases, symptoms can become worse after surgery.
Palate Procedures For Sleep Apnea
This category of sleep apnea surgeries includes uvulopalatopharyngoplasty , expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty, lateral pharyngoplasty, uvulopalatal flap, the pillar procedure, palatal advancement pharyngoplasty, z-palatoplasty, and relocation pharyngoplasty.
In general, these procedures involve removing the tonsils and removing or repositioning of the soft palate, uvula, and soft tissues next to the palate and tonsils on the side of the throat. While each surgery for sleep apnea has its own complex process, here is a quick summary of each.
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