Chin strap - Higher AHI??

mecocosm · Post by **mecocosm** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 10:27 am

I read somewhere that using a chin strap causes AHI to move higher. The reason given was that the chin strap narrows the airway resulting in more events/hour (especially hypopneas).

Is that really the case? If so, I wonder if the Optilife nasal pillows will give higher AHIs than the Breeze, Swift, Nasal Aire II, Twilight NP etc.

blarg · Post by **blarg** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 7:45 pm

Some chin straps pull the chin back, causing the airway to close.

Example:

Just looking at it, you can tell where the pressure's going.

Other chin straps, however, pull the jaw straight up, which doesn't narrow the airway.

Example:

You can see the difference. Cpap.com also sells some cheaper versions of the second one that they make, which could save you a few bucks if you're looking to try one.

mecocosm · Post by **mecocosm** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 8:00 pm

I looked at the pictures of the Respironics Optilife on cpap.com. It does appear that if you pull the two straps upward, the built-in chin strap will narrow the airway.

I would assume that you would need to tighten the straps more at higher pressures, what does this do to AHI? Hopefully someone who has a Respironics or Resmed AutoPAP can compare the AHI values between the Optilife and say the Breeze/Swift/Nasal Aire II.

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 8:38 pm

blarg wrote:Some chin straps pull the chin back, causing the airway to close.

Example:

Just looking at it, you can tell where the pressure's going.

Other chin straps, however, pull the jaw straight up, which doesn't narrow the airway.

Example:

You can see the difference. Cpap.com also sells some cheaper versions of the second one that they make, which could save you a few bucks if you're looking to try one.

I tried the Respironics one before I discovered I could train myself not to mouth leak.

The chinstrap did not work very well cuz it kept sliding off the top of my head. It works on the dummy head in the picture cuz his hair (I don't have much up their myself but I don't think it would make much of a difference if I did) doesn't get squashed to the roundnes of the top of his head and slide off.

I tried to give it away a while back and nobody was interested. If anyone wants it let me know and I'll send it to you ... I have no use for it.

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 9:06 pm

Well ... did not take long this time ... chinstrap is spoken for.

Sleepy-eyes · Post by **Sleepy-eyes** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 5:00 pm

[quote="mecocosm"]I read somewhere that using a chin strap causes AHI to move higher. The reason given was that the chin strap narrows the airway resulting in more events/hour (especially hypopneas).

Is that really the case? If so, I wonder if the Optilife nasal pillows will give higher AHIs than the Breeze, Swift, Nasal Aire II, Twilight NP etc.

bdp522 · Post by **bdp522** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 5:59 pm

The optilife doesn't have a chin strap. It is a support strap. It isn't made to hold the mouth shut, but to keep the mask from riding up on your head. I just got mine today. Of course I had to wait 2 hrs for apria rep to get here so I could show him how to put it together! I'll let you know how I make out after a few nights.

Brenda

Chin strap - Higher AHI??

Chin strap - Higher AHI??

Re: Chin strap - Higher AHI??