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Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
Introduction to Obstructive Sleep Apnea
If you have moderate to severe sleep apnea, lifestyle changes alone are often inadequate to correct your condition. Your physician may prescribe a medical device called a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machine, or a CPAP.
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Most patients using a CPAP machine have a condition known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). During sleep, the muscles in the back of the throat relax, causing the upper airway to become smaller. In some patients, the upper airway can collapse, causing a blockage of air movement into the lungs. When airflow is stopped for at least 10 seconds, it is referred to as an apnea.
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Sleep Apnea should not be taken lightly, and can create further and more serious health complications for patients if left untreated. With successful treatment, patients with OSA (and their loved ones) can enjoy more restful sleep and greatly improved health.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
& Bi-Level Positive Airway Pressure Therapy
If you have moderate to severe sleep apnea, lifestyle changes alone are often inadequate to correct the problem.
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This therapy works by creating positive air pressure within the back of the throat, thus preventing airway collapse and subsequent apneas. The positive pressure pushes out on the walls of the throat, creating an “air splint” within the airway – similar to the way air pressure within a balloon pushes out on the walls of the balloon and prevents it from collapsing.
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A mask or other device is worn over the nose (called a nasal mask), or over the nose and mouth (called a full face mask). The mask is connected by a hollow tube from the CPAP motor to supply just enough positive air pressure to keep your airways open during sleep.
