Video FAQ – Aerophagia When Using CPAP
What To Do About Aerophagia While Using CPAP
Aerophagia is a condition that some patients using CPAP for obstructive sleep apnea suffer from. It causes any number of uncomfortable effects. In this video, Dr. Popper explains aerophagia, what it is and what may help relieve it so that you can get a better night's sleep while wearing your CPAP unit. This video FAQ series was created to address your general questions about obstructive sleep apnea and other sleep disorders. If you have specific questions about your personal condition, please contact Dr. Popper using the information below. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to be alerted when a new FAQ video is posted. If you need information right away, please Contact us here on this site or on our Facebook page. We'll get back to you as quickly as possible.
What is Aerophagia and what can be done about it?
Some patients who use Nasal CPAP complain of abdominal pain, abdominal bloating, an increase in belching or passing gas upon arising in the morning. What is that and what can be done about it?
These are symptoms of what we call air swallowing or aerophagia. Measures to combat Aerophagia include assuring that the lowest effective CPAP pressure is utilized. Additionally, elevation of the head of the bed and the use of Mylicon or Gas-X before bed time may alleviate these symptoms.
In some patients CPAP has to be discontinued and BiPAP instituted instead. BiPAP allows a lower expiratory pressure relative to the inspiratory pressure and will alleviate these symptoms most of the time.
I'm Dr. Ronald Popper, medical director of the Southern California Pulmonary and Sleep Disorders Medical Center in Thousand Oaks, California. To view more videos that help to address all of your questions about sleep apnea and other sleep disorders, please visit our website at SleepMD4U.com.
Thank you for watching and always remember, sleep well tonight for a better day tomorrow.
Dr. Ronald A. Popper is a Board Certified sleep specialist. The Southern California Pulmonary and Sleep Disorders Medical Center in Thousand Oaks, California is a four bed, state of the art, fully accredited sleep disorders center. Dr. Popper is available at (805) 557-9930 to answer any questions you have regarding diagnosis and treatment of all sleep disorders, including obstructive sleep apnea, restless limb syndrome, insomnia, narcolepsy, and others.
Watch the video above, and then Click Here to schedule an appointment with Dr. Popper if you would like to talk about how you can stop snoring, address your obstructive sleep apnea or discuss any other sleep disorder.
