chin straps vs CPAP

[Guest]

Hello, greetings from Kenya!

I am on CPAP machine (RESMED S9 AUTOSET with HUMIDIFIER) for about 10 months with a GREAT improvement in my snoring (which has now stopped according to my wife) and the early morning and day time fatigue is over (I used to need to take naps during lunch break at the office, fall asleep when watching TV etc). So I have been reading some conflicting articles this week on whether the chin strap is better than the CPAP...any one with more reliable info?

[chunkyfrog]

What is it about a chin strap that would provide any therapeutic function at all?
You have been reading bullshit. Lay it down, back away, and never look at it again.
If you have touched it, use a good antibacterial soap and lots of hot water on your hands.
What on Earth were you thinking of?

[Julie]

I think the Frog got a little carried away there...

Chin straps are accessories to Cpap - they do help if you mouth breathe overnight and lose Cpap air that way - keep your mouth from opening up too much, but they are not 'therapy' in themselves. Sorry!

Snoring is only a symptom of apnea, but apnea can kill you, snoring won't. I really think you need to educate yourself about it to understand why e.g. chin straps (or many other things not-Cpap) alone will not treat apnea, even if your snoring gets better. Go to the yellow bulb at the top of this page and start reading.

[chunkyfrog]

I think the Frog got a little carried away there...

Yes, Julie, I suppose I did.
I have seen the ads and "testimonials" promoting chin straps.
Most of this promotional literature gushes over the ability of chin straps to quell snoring.
Unfortunately, the internal obstructions resulting in obstructive sleep apnea are only compounded
by adding an ADDITIONAL obstruction, i.e., a chin strap.
Snoring may be alleviated; but sometimes by cessation of BREATHING.
This makes me a little bit cray-cray.

[Julie]

Join the C-C club... my bro. told me I wasn't crazy the other nite (never mind why) but I really question that a lot of the time!

[chunkyfrog]

"Normal" people give me the willies.

[casmani]

Thanks for all the great responses. Yes, it is true these fancy adverts nay be misleading and also didn't really get how the chin strap can do what the CPAP does - open my airway. Will obviously stick to my CPAP!!!