EXcite OSA: A Revolutionary Treatment for Sleep Apnea
Sleep is essential to a healthy mind and body, but there are many ways sleep can be interrupted, leading to poor sleep quality. Two of the most common ways are snoring and sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea is a common but serious sleep disorder affecting over 1 in 4 Americans, where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. If left untreated, the condition can lead to severe health consequences.
Snoring, on the other hand, is often viewed as a comical concern; however, chronic snoring can have significant impacts on heart and brain health, as well as compromising the sleep quality of others around the patient.
Unfortunately, traditional treatments for snoring and sleep apnea are cumbersome and don’t treat the underlying cause. Here, expert ear, nose and throat and sleep doctor Dr. Schalch Lepe discusses eXcite OSA as a revolutionary solution to snoring and sleep apnea.
The Importance of Proper Sleep
Often described as the cornerstone of good overall wellbeing, sleep is a vital aspect of human health, playing a crucial role in ensuring the mind and body function optimally.
During deep sleep, the body works on healing and repairing. This includes tissue growth and muscle repair, as well as the release of essential hormones responsible for growth and stress regulation. Adequate sleep also aids in maintaining a healthy balance of hormones that control hunger—ghrelin and leptin—helping in weight management.
Sleep has a pronounced effect on brain functions, such as cognition, concentration, productivity, and performance. Sleep deprivation can impede these functions, leading to memory lapses and reduced problem-solving skills. Furthermore, chronic lack of sleep can lead to mood swings, depression, and anxiety.
Proper sleep can regulate mood and emotional responses. A lack of sleep can lead to increased irritability, mood swings, and even heighten the risk of developing mood disorders.
Regular and consistent sleep strengthens the body’s immune system, enabling it to fend off common infections. In contrast, sleep deprivation can make the body more susceptible to illnesses.
Sleep supports healthy heart functions and plays a crucial role in healing and repairing the heart and blood vessels. Continuous sleep deficiency is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke.
How Snoring and Sleep Apnea Impact Sleep Quality
Sleep apnea and snoring are both concerns that compromise sleep quality. Sleep apnea involves the patient stopping breathing intermittently during their sleep, which can cause drops in blood oxygen levels and long-term health impacts.
Snoring, while often viewed as less serious than sleep apnea, occurs when obstructed air moves through the respiratory pathway (nasal passage, mouth, and throat) and causes vibrations. Chronic snoring also has significant health implications by disrupting sleep quality.
Conventional Treatments for Sleep Apnea and Snoring
Conventional treatments for sleep apnea and snoring typically include lifestyle changes, such as losing weight or quitting smoking, and use of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines.
These machines deliver constant and steady air pressure through a mask while you sleep, thus keeping the airway open and preventing sleep apnea or snoring. Another type of treatment is the use of oral appliances designed to keep the throat open.
In severe cases, various types of surgery may be used to help facilitate breathing. While these methods can help manage symptoms and reduce complications, they don’t necessarily “cure” sleep apnea and often require lifetime commitment.
The Limitations of Conventional Treatments
Despite the relative effectiveness of conventional treatments, they do have limitations.
For example, CPAP machines can be uncomfortable, and users often find it difficult to adapt to wearing a mask during sleep. The cumbersome apparatus can make it difficult for patients to sleep in locations other than their own home.
Additionally, the constant air pressure can cause side effects, such as dry mouth, nose irritation, and abdominal bloating. Likewise, lifestyle changes can be hard to maintain, and surgery can present risks and lengthy recovery times. As such, many individuals with sleep apnea are often in search of alternative, more convenient treatment options.
How Is eXcite OSA Different?
eXcite OSA offers a unique approach to treating sleep apnea and snoring. Unlike conventional treatments, eXcite OSA focuses on treating the root cause of obstructive sleep apnea and snoring — the relaxation of the tongue and throat muscles.
Rather than merely managing symptoms, it strengthens the muscles that cause apnea events, offering a potential long-term solution. Furthermore, it’s a non-invasive and convenient method that patients can utilize at home, increasing compliance and effectiveness.
Unlike all other available treatment alternatives, eXcite OSA is a daytime, self-directed therapy that can replace or complement other treatment strategies such as oral appliances or even surgical procedures.
How Does eXcite OSA Work?
eXcite OSA employs a technique called neuromuscular electrical stimulation. The device stimulates the muscles of the tongue, strengthening them over time.
A small, flexible mouthpiece is worn for just 20 minutes per day while the patient is awake.
The mouthpiece delivers mild electrical impulses to specific points on the tongue, training and toning the muscles to prevent them from collapsing during sleep. The result is a significant reduction in sleep apnea events and snoring, reducing the potential for health complications and heart-related disease later on in life. This electrical-impulse therapy is performed during the daytime, and it may replace the need for wearing an oral appliance at night.
Specializing in the treatment of a variety of conditions (deviated septum, nasal obstruction, snoring, obstructive sleep apnea, etc.), Dr. Schalch Lepe is highly qualified and motivated to provide his patients with the best possible treatment results. Dr. Schalch Lepe takes an in-depth, personalized approach with each patient to ensure they receive the best possible treatment for their situation.
Originally from Mexico City, Mexico, Dr. Schalch Lepe has the unique perspective of having trained in multiple countries. This experience has led him to be sought out by domestic and international patients, many of whom are Mexican ex-pats living throughout San Diego County and Southern California.
What Are the Advantages of eXcite OSA Over Traditional Treatments for Sleep Apnea and Snoring?
eXcite OSA offers several significant advantages over traditional treatments. As a non-invasive therapy, it doesn’t involve surgery or require users to wear uncomfortable and bulky equipment while they sleep.
It’s portable, making it suitable for individuals who travel frequently. Moreover, because it targets the root cause of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea — relaxed throat muscles — eXcite OSA offers the potential for long-lasting relief. Patients can use it at their convenience, which enhances compliance and effectiveness. Therapy is performed during the daytime, while awake.
How to Get Started with eXcite OSA in Carmel Valley, CA
Getting started with eXcite OSA in Carmel Valley, CA, involves a straightforward process.
Consultation
First, a consultation with Dr. Schalch Lepe will help patients identify any health issue, and gives the patient an opportunity to learn about the different treatment options available. Dr. Schalch Lepe will review your sleep apnea symptoms, medical history, and possibly order a sleep study to understand the severity of your condition.
Diagnosis
Once you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, Dr. Schalch Lepe may recommend eXcite OSA as a treatment option depending on your unique condition and lifestyle needs. It’s important to discuss the pros and cons of this device in comparison to other treatments so you can make an informed decision.
Device fitting
Upon prescription, a custom-fitted eXcite OSA device will be made specifically for your mouth. A technician will guide you through the process of how to use the device correctly, including where to place it in the mouth, how to adjust the intensity of the electrical stimulation, and when and how long to use it each day.
Set-Up and Follow-Up
After settig the device up and reviewing the instructions, therapy is initiated.
Regular follow-ups with Dr. Schalch Lepe are crucial in the initial phase to ensure the device is working properly and to make necessary adjustments. Over time, these visits might become less frequent, but regular check-ups are always recommended to monitor the progression of your sleep apnea and assess the effectiveness of the treatment.
It’s worth noting that every person is unique, and eXcite OSA may not be the solution for everyone. Its success largely depends on the consistent use of the device and the severity of the sleep apnea.
Treating Sleep Apnea and Snoring in Carmel Valley, CA
As such, it is important to have an open discussion with your healthcare provider about your expectations and to ensure you understand the process of using eXcite OSA thoroughly. If you or a loved one is suffering from poor quality sleep due to snoring, learn how sleep apnea and snoring solutions like eXcita OSA can help you today. Contact Dr. Schalch Lepe at (858) 925-5800 or book your consultation online.