Are you one of the millions of people who suffer from sleep apnea or incessant snoring? Does your partner keep you awake at night because they snore loudly or have pauses in their breathing while they sleep? Chances are you are experiencing a sleep disorder and with it usually comes sleep deprivation. Sleep is an essential part of our life, without proper sleep we are not performing at our best and can experience health issues.
With the advancement of technology, a lot of sleep disorders are manageable now. There are so many options on the market today. The secret is to find the one that works for you or your partner.
Have you been using a CPAP machine without success? Some people simply can’t get used to sleeping with a mask and seek alternatives. Provent Therapy is one of these sleep apnea devices that claim to help eliminate mouth breathing and therefore reduce the chances of snoring and sleep apnea.
Does it work? Will it work for you? Let’s take a look at what it is, how it works, and what some users are saying about the device so you can make an informed decision.
What is Provent Therapy
Provent sleep apnea treatment is intended for obstructive sleep apnea sufferers. CPAP machines are usually a good treatment for this condition but some people can’t sleep with a face mask.
Do you cringe at the thought of sleeping with something attached to your face? Provent is a less invasive way to attack sleep apnea and is considered to be an alternative treatment for those who suffer from this sleep disorder.
Provent Therapy is an FDA-approved prescription nasal device that is applied before bedtime. The disposable nasal device uses the power of your breathing to help reduce the chances of soft tissues obstructing your throat while you sleep. This consists of two nasal adhesive patches, one for each nostril. When applied correctly the patches produce nasal expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) that can help obstructive sleep apnea sufferers get better sleep. The adhesive is hypoallergenic and the patches are meant to be for single use only.
Who is Provent Therapy Good For
Provent is available through prescription only. Your doctor will determine if you suffer from obstructive sleep apnea and prescribe an appropriate treatment for you. You may need a sleep study done by a sleep specialist in order to determine what type of sleep disorder you have.
Provent Therapy claims to help those with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. It may be a good alternative for you if you have tried other sleep apnea options like a CPAP machine without success.
What Is Sleep Apnea
Chances are you or your partner suffers from sleep apnea if you experience periods of pausing in your breathing while you sleep. This is usually accompanied with some snoring but is not caused by snoring.
The soft tissues in your mouth and throat relax when you sleep and may obstruct your airways. This causes the air to vibrate when it passes through and in some cases pause the breathing altogether. This is called obstructive sleep apnea and can be helped with a variety of solutions like CPAP machines and other devices.
Another type of sleep apnea is when your brain stops communicating to your lungs and your body forgets to continue breathing while you are asleep. This is a more complicated type of sleep apnea to treat.
You may suffer from sleep apnea if:
- You snore
- You stop breathing for periods of 10 to 30 seconds in the night
- You are overweight
- You wake up in the night coughing or gasping
- You wake up tired in the morning
- You wake up with a dry mouth
- You experience headaches
- You feel sleepy during the day
Speak with your doctor if you are experiencing some of these symptoms. Sleep is important and your doctor will try to get to the bottom of the problem so that you can get better sleep and have a better quality of life.
Provent vs CPAP Machine
The expensive and invasive CPAP machines (continuous positive airway pressure) are widely prescribed for the treatment of sleep apnea. Actually, they usually are the first option for treatment that doctors prescribe. Millions of people benefit from the device and get better and more restful sleep. But the CPAP machines are not suitable for everyone. Some people simply cannot get used to having a face mask on and toss it off in the middle of the night in frustration. That defeats the purpose of getting a great night’s sleep.
The CPAP machine comes with a variety of masks and some are less invasive than a full face mask. But the bottom line is that you are attached to a machine via a hose all night. This is probably not a good solution for you if you move a lot while you sleep.
CPAP machines work by increasing pressure during inhalation and exhalation with forced air. Provent Therapy uses your breathing and only increases pressure upon exhalation.
Provent is not as effective at reducing breathing pauses as the CPAP machines. It is, however, meant as an alternative for those who cannot use the machines.
What Users Are Saying - Provent Therapy Reviews
It’s a mixed bag of opinions regarding Provent Therapy. Let’s take a look at some Provent reviews.
“The vents you breathe through seem sized for a man's large nostrils, not petite woman nostrils. Also, leaves a sticky residue in the morning that I can only get off with rubbing alcohol. That is hard on my skin.”
“Used Provent for two weeks by which time I had become a mouth breather with dry mouth and sore throat and no impact on my sleep apnea. They are awkward to apply and easily leak air around the edges.”
“The CPAP would be thrown to the wall after a few hours of sleep. So I gave up on it. But I found out about Provent and I have to say it has made a big difference in the quality of my life as I am not as tired as I use to be. Expensive, yes. But I can function now!!”
“Been using this product for YEARS and it's the most effective/easiest to use sleep apnea treatment I've found. Tried mouthpieces, CPAP machines, everything. My surgeon recommended these as the last step before surgery. According to my wife, not only do I not stop breathing and not gasp for air during the night, any longer, but my snoring is MUCH milder. Feel much more rested during the day and am able to stay up later at night without getting tired.”
Bottom Line
Provent Therapy has proven to be effective for some users while others find it too difficult to breathe when exhaling and discontinue use. The company recommends that you give the treatment a few weeks before stopping.
Pros of Provent Therapy
- Easy to use
- Portable
- Less invasive
- FDA cleared
- Good for travel
- Less expensive than a CPAP machine ( depending on the duration of use)
Cons of Provent Therapy
- Prescription-only
- Expensive over time
- May not be covered by your insurance
- Takes time to get used to
- Leaves sticky residue
- May not stay put all night
Is Provent Good for You
Provent Therapy offers a 30-day starter kit combination for sleep apnea sufferers to help them ease into the treatment. It may take several weeks to get used to the device so they made a kit that contains two nights of low resistance patches, two nights of moderate resistance patches, and 26 nights of regular resistance patches.
You may not be a good candidate for Provent Therapy if you are a mouth breather because of an obstructed nose or deviated septum. But some users have had success using Provent Therapy with a chin strap. The strap helps keep the mouth closed so that you can breathe through your nose while you sleep.
A month supply of Provent costs on average about $65 USD and that can add up over the years if you use them every night. Check with your insurance plan to see if the treatment is covered or not.
Provent Therapy can also be useful for you if you use a CPAP machine at home but are planning to travel. It can be used as a temporary option when you are away from home and can’t carry your CPAP machine with you. Because your sleep disorder doesn’t miraculously stop when you are on vacation.
Speak with your doctor about Provent if you have tried a CPAP machine without success. It has proven effective for some sleep apnea sufferers and may possibly be a good solution for you as well. There’s no need for you or your partner to continue losing quality sleep when there are options on the market to relieve you of your sleep disorder.
